In a new development, Outschool, the online learning platform, has just announced two game-changing additions.
Outschool announced its new AI Teaching Assistant, a tool aimed streamlining tutor-student communication and efficiency, along with its move into one-on-one tutoring, effectively taking on established competitors like Varsity Tutors, Tutor.com, and Preply.
Powering Progress Reports with AI
In a strategic partnership with OpenAI, Outschool’s co-founder and CEO, Amir Nathoo, revealed the driving force behind the AI Teaching Assistant.
This move could potentially reshape the landscape of online education, though it has also sparked debates among educators. Some educators fear this technology might create new avenues for cheating and plagiarism, while others recognise its potential in aiding teachers to handle administrative tasks more efficiently.
The AI Teaching Assistant is designed to help teachers save valuable time when crafting progress reports and enhance communication with students’ parents or caregivers. Following each learning session, tutors input key points into the AI Teaching Assistant, detailing the student’s performance. The AI then generates paragraphs, offering parents an insightful overview of their child’s progress. Tutors can opt for either a detailed message or a concise summary, adding versatility to their communication.
A Teacher’s Perspective
To gain first-hand insight into this technology, TechCrunch interviewed Melanie Pauli, a piano teacher with over 25 years of experience who joined Outschool in 2020. Melanie was among the select educators who participated in the AI tool’s beta testing phase. She reported that crafting these paragraphs now takes her less than five minutes, a significant time-saver that allows her to maximise her productivity.
“[Previously,] I was communicating these things directly with students,” Melanie shared. “Sending messages directly to parents may, in turn, keep them as customers longer. They feel like they’re part of the learning process.”
It is important to note that this feature is currently available exclusively to tutors offering private lessons. However, Outschool has hinted at the possibility of adapting the tool for group class formats should sufficient interest arise.
Embracing the One-on-One Tutoring Trend
Outschool’s expansion doesn’t stop at AI Teaching Assistants. The platform has also launched one-on-one tutoring. Grand View Research predicts that the market size for online tutoring is set to reach a staggering $23.73 billion by 2030.
Amir Nathoo, Outschool’s CEO, acknowledged the challenges faced by parents and teachers in addressing learning gaps post-pandemic. “One-on-one tutoring is a powerful tool for parents to get their children the academic support they may need,” he asserted confidently.
Since its inception in 2015, Outschool has witnessed more than one million eager learners participate in over 100,000 live online classes. These learners span a wide age range, from as young as three to as old as 18 years.
This latest offering is poised to boost Outschool tutors’ earning potential as they can command higher fees for one-on-one sessions. With a roster of over 4,000 educators covering diverse subjects like English, reading, writing, math, art, music, and vocal lessons, Outschool is well-positioned to make a significant impact in the growing online education sector.
As the digital education landscape continues to evolve, Outschool’s innovative approach, coupled with AI-powered tools and personalised tutoring options, shows its commitment to meeting the dynamic needs of students, parents, and educators in this brave new world of online learning. The platform’s moves in the ever-growing online education sector are bound to shape the future of learning for generations to come.
