Why you can’t just stick a worksheet online and call it e-learning – what we’ve learned from developing an impactful online tutoring curriculum

In an era where online learning has become a staple of education, it’s tempting to believe that transitioning from in-person teaching to digital delivery is as simple as uploading worksheets or repurposing classroom resources. 

At Action Tutoring we believe that truly impactful e-learning requires much more. We’ve been supporting pupils facing disadvantage with face-to-face tutoring for over 12 years. In 2021 we gained a huge amount of experience in managing sessions remotely when the pandemic forced pupils into home-based learning. This experience has been invaluable in enabling us to shift to an effective remote model, allowing us to reach and to support even more pupils facing disadvantage, including those outside of urban centres.

Here’s why we’ve found an effective online curriculum delivery must be carefully designed and expertly executed, based on our experience developing an impactful online tutoring programme.

Why effective online curriculum delivery requires thoughtful design and expert execution

1. Curriculum design: more than resources

Effective online learning begins with a well-structured curriculum. Success isn’t just about the materials you provide; it’s about crafting a journey for learners. Our online curriculum includes:

Recapping and recalling: Resources are designed with built-in opportunities for pupils to review previous learning and reinforce key concepts.

Expert craftsmanship: We’ve appointed in-house Curriculum Leads (CLs) to ensure that every session is tailored, focused, and impactful for our specific audience.

Inclusion as standard: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is at the heart of our content. We aspire towards DEI targets, such as a 50/50 gender split between authors of texts, names from a variety of cultures and languages, and that 25% of text authors come from ethnic minorities. By avoiding stereotypes and incorporating school feedback, we create lessons that resonate with pupils from all backgrounds.

2. Delivery drives results

While resources are critical, the way they’re delivered makes all the difference. Our volunteer tutors receive tailored training to use Action Tutoring’s online resources effectively. This training empowers them to:

Model and question: Tutors learn how to break down concepts, ask probing questions, and set clear objectives.

Engage and assess: They’re trained to monitor progress, engage learners, and adapt their approach during sessions.

Leverage technology: Training covers our online platform, Vedamo, equipping tutors to use interactive features such as shared whiteboards, chat functions, and session slides effectively.

Tailor-made training is offered throughout the tutor journey, with online modules, live webinars, drop ins with Curriculum Leads and demonstration videos all regularly available. These offerings are crucial in ensuring tutors feel supported and empowered to deliver effective sessions. 

3. Overcoming online learning challenges

Online learning is not without its pitfalls. That’s why our curriculum and delivery model are designed to address common barriers:

Building rapport and reducing isolation: Structured activities like check-ins and group games foster interaction and connection. Pupils collaborate on shared tasks, such as peer-assessing answers on the same board.

Managing distractions: Noise-cancelling headphones help pupils stay focused, and visually engaging session designs maintain their attention.

Improving familiarity: Each session includes practice time to build confidence in navigating the online classroom environment.

4. Technology and curriculum alignment

One of the hallmarks of our approach is the seamless integration of technology with curriculum content:

Purpose-built platforms: Unlike generic video conferencing tools, Vedamo is specifically designed for learning. It features interactive tools like text boxes, highlighting, and slide navigation, enabling pupils to actively engage with their tutoring sessions. Pupils can write on the screen so tutors can assess their work in real time; and they can see their peers’ ideas to enable group discussions

Real-time support: Our dedicated online support system staff provide live technical assistance, ensuring that disruptions don’t derail learning.

5. Pupils at the centre of design

An impactful curriculum also supports the social and emotional development of pupils. We’ve learned that:

Safety and value are key: Pupils thrive when they feel supported. Our tutors prioritise building strong relationships, which is frequently mentioned in the pupil feedback we collect each year.

Targeted content leads to impact: Because our curriculum is so sharply focused on the needs of disadvantaged pupils, it delivers measurable results. For instance, pupils who attend 10 or more sessions see substantial improvements in their SATs and GCSE outcomes. 

In 2023–24 we carried out an in-depth study, quality assured by a leading research organisation. It found that online and face-to-face tutoring led to similar levels of impact in the results pupils achieved. In fact, Year 11 maths pupils seemed to benefit slightly from the online format.

6. Continuous improvement

Finally, an effective online curriculum is never static. We constantly refine our programme based on:

Research and evidence: Regular reviews of tutoring research and updates to the National Curriculum inform our resources.

Feedback from schools: Partner schools help us understand what works best, shaping future iterations of our materials.

Platform enhancements: Recent updates to Vedamo, such as streamlined slide navigation, make our online learning experience even more user-friendly.

The bottom line

True e-learning goes far beyond uploading worksheets or digitising existing resources. It’s a collaborative effort that combines expertly designed materials, inclusive practices, skilled delivery, and robust technology.

At Action Tutoring, we’re proud to offer a model of online tutoring that mitigates the challenges of e-learning and maximises its potential. If your school is looking for ways to support pupils effectively in an online environment, we’d love to help. Together, we can close the gap for disadvantaged pupils and help them achieve their full potential.