Online Tutoring Student Engagement 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A student stops responding mid-session in your video call. What is the BEST first step?
- End the session and email the student later
- Wait silently for several minutes before doing anything
- Verbally check in and ask if they can hear you or need a moment (Correct answer)
- Immediately call the student's parent or guardian
Correct answer: Verbally check in and ask if they can hear you or need a moment
Verbally checking in is a low-pressure way to re-establish contact before escalating.
Question 2: Which strategy BEST promotes active recall during an online tutoring session?
- Reading notes aloud to the student
- Asking the student to close their notes and explain a concept back to you (Correct answer)
- Sending a summary email after the session
- Showing the student worked examples without pausing
Correct answer: Asking the student to close their notes and explain a concept back to you
Having the student explain concepts without notes activates active recall, which strengthens long-term retention.
Question 3: A student says they understand the material but consistently answers practice questions incorrectly. What should the tutor do?
- Accept the student's self-assessment and move on
- Use probing questions to uncover where the misconception lies (Correct answer)
- Assign more reading before the next session
- Tell the student they are not studying enough
Correct answer: Use probing questions to uncover where the misconception lies
Probing questions help identify specific gaps between perceived and actual understanding.
Question 4: Which type of question is MOST effective for deepening student engagement during online tutoring?
- Yes/no questions
- Multiple-choice questions read aloud
- Open-ended 'why' and 'how' questions (Correct answer)
- Rapid-fire factual recall drills
Correct answer: Open-ended 'why' and 'how' questions
Open-ended questions require students to think critically and articulate their reasoning, boosting engagement.
Question 5: How can a tutor use a virtual whiteboard to INCREASE student engagement?
- Write out the full solution before the student attempts it
- Let the student draw or write on the whiteboard to show their thinking (Correct answer)
- Use it only to display pre-made slides
- Avoid it because it distracts students
Correct answer: Let the student draw or write on the whiteboard to show their thinking
Inviting the student to use the whiteboard shifts them from passive observer to active participant.
Question 6: A student appears disengaged every session right after the 30-minute mark. What is the MOST likely issue?
- The student dislikes the tutor
- The session length may exceed the student's attention span (Correct answer)
- The content is too easy
- The student's internet connection degrades over time
Correct answer: The session length may exceed the student's attention span
Many students, especially younger ones, have attention spans that decline significantly after 20–30 minutes without a break.
Question 7: Which of the following BEST describes 'scaffolding' in the context of online tutoring engagement?
- Providing all answers upfront to save time
- Gradually reducing support as the student gains independence (Correct answer)
- Using a rigid script for every session
- Assigning harder work immediately to challenge the student
Correct answer: Gradually reducing support as the student gains independence
Scaffolding means offering structured support initially and progressively removing it as the student builds competency.
Online Tutoring Student Engagement 2
A student stops responding mid-session in your video call.
What is the BEST first step?