Outschool, the innovative online learning platform known for its engaging classes for kids, has announced the launch of its AI Teaching Assistant—a powerful tool designed to help tutors effortlessly create progress reports. Primarily recognized for its small group courses, Outschool is now expanding into one-on-one tutoring, positioning itself as a competitor to established services like Varsity Tutors, Tutor.com, and Preply.
Amir Nathoo, co-founder and CEO of Outschool, shared with us that the AI Teaching Assistant is powered by a collaboration with OpenAI. Since the release of ChatGPT in 2022, OpenAI has sparked significant discussions among educators, with concerns surrounding cheating and plagiarism counterbalanced by recognition of its ability to streamline administrative tasks for teachers.
The new AI feature is crafted to assist instructors in efficiently generating progress reports and fostering communication with parents or caregivers. After each session, tutors input key bullet points into the AI Teaching Assistant, which then composes a detailed overview of the student’s activities and performance. Tutors can choose to send either a thorough report or a brief summary.
We had the opportunity to speak with Melanie Pauli, a piano instructor with over 25 years of teaching experience who joined Outschool in 2020. As an early user of the AI tool during its beta phase, she found that generating reports took less than five minutes, allowing her to save valuable time between lessons.
"Before this, I communicated directly with students," Pauli explained. "Now, sending messages to parents not only keeps them informed but may also enhance customer retention, as they feel involved in the learning journey."
Currently, this feature is available exclusively to tutors conducting private lessons, but Outschool has indicated that it may adapt the tool for group classes if demand increases.
Outschool has also launched one-on-one tutoring, an astute move in response to the rising popularity of online education following the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Grand View Research, the online tutoring market is expected to reach a value of $23.73 billion by 2030.
Nathoo emphasized the importance of personalized support for students, stating, "It has been challenging for parents and teachers to address learning gaps since the pandemic. One-on-one tutoring is a valuable resource for parents seeking academic assistance for their children."
Since its inception in 2015, Outschool has engaged over one million learners in more than 100,000 live online classes, catering to students aged three to 18. The introduction of one-on-one sessions will also enable Outschool tutors to increase their earning potential by charging higher rates for personalized instruction. With a robust network of over 4,000 educators, Outschool covers a diverse array of subjects including English, math, art, and music.
Outschool is making significant strides in the education technology space, evidenced by recent funding rounds (Series B, C, and D) and a strategic restructuring involving an 18% workforce reduction.
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