When observing a class, our Quality Team will pay attention mainly to the areas of evaluation you’ll find below.
Teaching Space
It's vital to have a professional and tidy space for your Zoom sessions. Clear any distractions, ensure adequate lighting, and maintain a well-organized backdrop. A Dojo-specific background enhances your professionalism, signaling commitment to Dojo (and delighting your learners!)
Excellent tutoring space. The tutor is utilizing a Dojo Zoom background. Paring this with a well lit space free from distractions is exactly what we are looking for! See examples below:
Acceptable tutoring space. This space is free from distractions, has great lighting, and the tutor is fully in the frame! See examples below:
Not acceptable tutoring space. This is a cluttered workspace with poor lighting, both of which are distracting for learners. Low-quality tutoring spaces also include cars, restaurants, and public spaces.
Energy
High energy is characterized by enthusiastic engagement, animated expressions, and a passionate teaching approach. The tutor maintains a lively pace, actively interacts with kids, and employs a dynamic teaching style, ensuring kids remain captivated and inspired throughout the class.
💡Check out this clip of what GREAT energy in your class could look like!
Sharing goals
Setting and sharing goals collaboratively with the learner and their family is crucial for targeted learning. At the beginning of every class, revisit these goals to align expectations, ensure consistent progress, and maintain a clear focus. This boosts engagement and reinforces your shared commitment to success.
Below are two great examples of how to begin each class with a visual representing your learner’s goals. You can see an example of a Dojo Tutor reviewing their learner’s goals here.
💡You can find both of these templates in the Dojo Tutor Drive.
Tech-savviness
To ensure the highest-quality class, complete this checklist:
- I’m using the most current version of Zoom, from the Zoom app (not the webpage)
- I’m proficient with all Zoom tools (annotate, sharing screen, Zoom whiteboard, chat, etc.)
- My learner can see and hear me properly
- My internet is stable and provides a solid connection (check your internet connection here)
- I can help families troubleshoot basic problems like connecting to audio or turning on their camera
- I can help my learner use Zoom tools like annotate, Zoom whiteboard, and the Zoom chat
- I can quickly navigate between all my activities and webpages without any lag or delays
- I’m facilitating my class from a laptop or desktop, not a phone, tablet or chromebook
- I can share my distraction-free screen and use interactive drag-and-drops
Engaging resources
Engaging virtual activities include interactive quizzes, dynamic whiteboard exercises, multimedia presentations, lively discussions, and hands-on projects. These digital tools and methods foster learner interaction, promote active participation, and enhance understanding, ensuring a captivating and effective online learning experience.
Great activities are colorful, interactive, and engage your learner! See the example below:
Low-quality resources might look like this: a black-and-white slide, with blurry or distracting images. See the example below; there are way better ways to display this activity!
Personalization
Personalizing lessons is paramount. Every lesson is tailored, addressing the learner's unique goals, learning requirements, and interests. By crafting highly individualized content, we ensure a relevant, engaging, and effective learning journey for each student, optimizing their potential and enthusiasm for the subject.
Example: You work with a learner named Alex. Alex is in second grade and working on reading fluency, as well as learning their sight words. After chatting with Alex during your trial class, you learn that they love to bake! Using what you know about Alex, their learning goals, and their interests, you generate a personalized lesson that will engage them and make them excited to learn with you!
Pacing
Following the pacing guide provided by Dojo Tutor ensures consistent learning progress. It guarantees that lessons align with set objectives, maintains uniformity across classes, caters to kids’ learning needs, and ensures timely topic coverage, enhancing the overall educational experience.
💡Check out this video on how to pace your Trial Classes.
💡Check out this video on how to pace your Weekly Classes.
Positive Praise
Personalized, genuine positive praise boosts learner confidence and motivation. Tailored compliments acknowledge individual effort and foster a sense of accomplishment. This individual recognition not only enhances learning engagement but builds a trusting, encouraging environment crucial for sustained academic progress and self-esteem.
Genuine and specific positive praise helps learners feel GREAT about themselves and their accomplishments! See the example below:
Avoid generic or impersonal praise. Generic praise can make kids feel as if their efforts are not being noticed or valued. See the example below:
