Brain Training or a Tutor? What’s the Difference?

At LearningRx, we’re often asked about the difference between one-on-one brain training and working with a tutor. When students need dedicated assistance with learning, both of these solutions can offer tremendous support. But they’re very different in their approach and intended outcomes.

Below, we’ll do an in-depth review of how each of these options works. But before that, it’s important to think about the cause of any learning difficulties faced by a student.

People struggle with studying or learning for many different reasons. Understanding the source of learning struggles can help you identify what type of educational support is needed. Some students are great in the classroom but struggle to work independently at home. Some learners excel in certain subjects but wrestle with others.   

To help you narrow down the source of the issue, here are four questions to consider:

1. Does your student frequently struggle with learning, either inside the classroom or outside of it?  
2. Are they facing new challenges in a subject they’ve previously excelled in?
3. Has their learning environment changed at all?
4. Can your learner describe why they’re having trouble?

With these questions in mind, let’s delve into which solutions make sense for your student: brain training or hiring a tutor.  

Tutor or Training? Understanding Your Options for Educational Support

All About Hiring A Tutor

How can a tutor help your student? Here’s what you’ll want to know about tutoring:

• What is tutoring?
  Tutoring is typically described as subject-specific support. Your learner will work one-on-one with a private instructor who has training in a particular field. With a tutor, students can review materials from class in greater depth.
• What are the intended outcomes? 

In most cases, tutoring is designed to give students focused time on a particular concept or lesson from school. The goal is to help learners become more familiar with course materials.

• When is this a good option for students?
  Tutoring can replicate the classroom environment in many ways, so it can be a good fit for students who typically excel in school. If a learner has moved schools or missed a few classes, this can help them catch up. 

Because a tutor is focused on what students learn, tutoring isn’t always the right fit when students are struggling with how they learn. In those situations, one-on-one cognitive training may be a better fit.

How Brain Training Supports Learners

Tutoring isn’t the only type of one-on-one support you can get for your student. Let’s take a look at brain training from LearningRx:

• What is brain training?
  Cognitive training helps students work on improving specific brain skills—like logic, memory, reasoning, and focus. Programs are personalized to each student, and packed with games and drills that exert core cognitive skills.
• What are the intended outcomes?
  With this type of training, the goal is to strengthen foundational cognitive skills— the abilities needed to learn, think, read, and remember. When students improve these core skills, they can transform how they learn in the first place.
• When is this a good option for students?
  Brain training can be great for students who often struggle in class, who have difficulty focusing or completing assignments, or who need to work harder than their peers in school. It can be a good option for those with cognitive differences, too.

Brain training can also be combined with the support of a tutor! If students are lacking underlying learning skills, one-on-one cognitive training can be crucial to ensuring that any subsequent tutoring is also successful.   

Get One-on-One Brain Training Today

Learners of all ages can work on boosting their cognitive skills with LearningRx! We provide support that’s tailored to each student’s unique strengths and needs.

Our clients work one-on-one with a dedicated brain trainer who understands their cognitive profile. Trainers can keep students motivated through sessions packed with games and drills, offering regular feedback and encouragement.    

After completing a LearningRx program, students of all ages have seen dramatic improvement in their cognitive skills! Through one-on-one brain training, we help clients discover their unique learning potential.

(Resulted based on past clients. You or your child may or may not experience the same results.)
If you’re trying to decide between a tutor and one-on-one brain training, why not contact LearningRx? You can get in touch by calling 866-BRAIN-01, or just visit us online today.