6 Solutions for Online Math Education

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, most education, including math, physics, and other STEM subjects, moved online. While disciplines like English and history can be taught effectively with regular video calls and collaborative software like Google Docs, STEM and math, in particular, require additional tools due to the complexity of formulas and symbols that are difficult to type on a computer. This article provides an overview of the tools and software used by professional online math tutors in 1:1 or group settings. Although written with math in mind, these tools are also applicable for physics, statistics, and other STEM subjects.

This article outlines 6 popular solutions that tutors use for tutoring math. For each solution we discuss it's pros and cons, provide a cost estimate to help you prepare.

Video Call App

Whatever solution you will use, If you are planning to tutor online, you will have to choose an app for video calls. Two most popular options out there are Zoom (zoom.com) and Google Meet (https://meet.google.com/). We won't cover key differences between these 2 because they are essentially very simple tools, that just connect you with your students over video. Additionally, there are plenty of articles on selecting a video call solution (see here, here or here).

External Camera + Pen/Pencil/Blackboard

This method involves using an external wired camera that is connected to your laptop. The camera is mounted to look directly down at the paper or book where the tutor is writing, mimicking the in-person experience. Tutors we spoke to appreciate this setup because it’s intuitive and requires little technical knowledge. It’s an easy solution that feels close to a traditional classroom environment, as everyone is familiar with using pen and paper. Another way to do that is to use an actual blackboard and have a camera look at the blackboard.

However, this method doesn’t facilitate student interaction. It’s a great option for recording lessons or creating YouTube videos but may not be ideal for live tutoring where student participation is key.

Pros: easy setup, cheap
Cons: not good for student interaction
Budget: $80-100 for a mount with a camera

Whiteboard Space App

Whiteboard space apps provide a virtual "blackboard" where both tutor and student can write and draw in real time, similar to a blackboard in a physical classroom. These apps are popular because they allow for dynamic interaction, such as writing a function and drawing a chart simultaneously. Additionally, they allow tutors to archive lessons and reuse them with other students.

However, these apps often require using a mouse or touchpad to write and draw, which can be challenging for new users and slow down collaboration. Some tutors solve this by using drawing tablets (like Wacom or Lenovo) connected to their computer, though this requires additional investment.

Apps: Miro (starts at $8/mo), Zoom Whiteboard (available with Zoom Pro Teams at $15.99), iDroo (starts at $9), BitPaper (starts at $8/mo) or Excalidraw for a free version.

Pros: quick to start, collaborative, cross platform
Cons: are not specialized for math, not UX friendly
Budget: $8-20/mo + cost of drawing tablets (start at $50)

Corca

Corca (http://corca.app/) is a newer app that’s gaining traction among tutors. It is structured like a document, allowing both the tutor and student to work on the same document. Corca is designed specifically for math, making it easier and faster to type math equations on a computer. Corca doesn't require any hardware tools, as it's input is intuitive and quick - it was actually built for research community, where easiness and speed of input is a priority.

Tutors who use Corca say that it's great for both explaining materials and managing student's homework. It's only drawback is that it doesn't allow graphing or actually any drawing, but instead of that you can upload an image done elsewhere.

Pros: collaborative, specialized for math, cross platform, free
Cons: no drawing or graphing
Budget: free

iPad / Android App

If you own an iPad or Android tablet with a stylus, you can use it in conjunction with your video call app and a tutoring app. You would connect to the video call from your tablet, share your screen with the app open, and begin your lesson. While it's great because of tablet's native UX, many tutors avoid this setup because connecting via the tablet and sharing the screen can be cumbersome. Additionally, positioning the tablet in a way that makes it easy to write while using its front-facing camera can be challenging. Furthermore, if you want to provide a similar solution for your students, they would need to purchase a tablet, which can be expensive.

Apps: Notability, Good Reads

Pros: collaborative, good writing capabilities
Cons: can be expensive for the student, less practical, iPad only
Budget: $19.99/year + cost of tablet (start at $200)

Desmos

Desmos (https://www.desmos.com/) is a powerful suite of tools for math enthusiasts, featuring a graphing tool, scientific calculator, matrix editor, and more. Many tutors use Desmos primarily for its graphing capabilities, alongside a whiteboard app. They also offer a set of teacher tools at teacher.desmos.com, which include pre-written curriculum and exercises.

The main drawback of Desmos is that it is not collaborative. While the tutor can use it to demonstrate concepts, the student cannot interact with it. Additionally, the pre-built curriculum lacks flexibility, so tutors cannot easily modify lessons.

Pros: graphing-focused, free
Cons: no collaboration, no flexibility, require additional apps, computer only
Budget: free

Geogebra

GeoGebra (https://www.geogebra.org/) is another set of tools widely used by math tutors. Unlike Desmos, GeoGebra is geared more toward geometry. While it offers a variety of tools, it also shares some limitations with Desmos, such as a lack of flexibility and a pre-written curriculum. However, GeoGebra allows for multi-user access, making it a great tool for reviewing lessons with students in real-time. Like Desmos, it is often used in conjunction with a whiteboard app.

Pros: collaborative, geometry-focused, free
Cons: no flexibility, require additional apps, computer-only
Budget: free