Help & FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is TutorThings for?
Anyone who can hold a voice conversation. There's no age requirement and no particular grade level it's aimed at - it works for younger kids, teens, and adults. The tutor adjusts how it explains things based on the conversation, so it meets you where you are rather than assuming a fixed level.
Will it just do the work for them?
No. TutorThings is intentionally designed not to be an answer machine. If a learner asks "just tell me the answer," the tutor redirects toward figuring it out together - asking what they've tried, pointing to the next step, offering a hint rather than a solution. The goal is that the learner leaves understanding the concept, not just having a completed assignment.
What if the learner gets stuck?
That's when TutorThings is most useful. Getting stuck reveals exactly where understanding breaks down, and that's what the session can focus on. The tutor will ask what the learner has already tried, offer progressively more specific hints if needed, and try different angles if one explanation isn't landing. A small amount of productive struggle is expected and normal - it's part of how understanding forms.
What if they answer incorrectly?
Wrong answers are treated as information, not failure. The tutor's response to an incorrect answer is curiosity - "What were you thinking when you said that?" - rather than correction. Understanding why something is wrong is often more valuable than just knowing the right answer, because it closes the gap that led to the mistake.
What topics can we work on?
Any topic you can talk about. The Learn Anything mode is open-ended - learners bring a topic they're working on or curious about, and the session goes from there. Story Time builds an interactive narrative around a topic of their choice. Quiz Game runs a faster-paced question round on any subject they pick.
Structured school subject guides are still being built and will be added over time, but the open-ended modes already work for school subjects, curiosity questions, and anything else a learner wants to explore.
Is learner data sold?
No. TutorThings doesn't sell user data or use ad-targeting business models.
Can we use this on mobile?
Yes. TutorThings runs in a browser on modern desktop and mobile devices. Voice sessions work on mobile the same way they do on desktop - make sure microphone permission is enabled in your browser settings.
How long should sessions be?
10 - 15 minutes tends to work better than longer sessions. Short and consistent is more effective than infrequent and long - the brain consolidates what it learned during the gaps between sessions, so spacing them out actually helps. Three or four short sessions a week is a solid rhythm.
Can I sit in on a session?
Yes. An adult, caregiver, or educator can sit in if needed. If you do, it is usually more helpful to listen than to jump in - the tutor is designed to handle the support, and stepping in too quickly can interrupt the learner's thinking. Afterward, asking "What did you figure out?" is a better conversation starter than "How did it go?" because it invites explanation, not just evaluation.
Troubleshooting
Audio isn't working Make sure your browser has microphone permission for TutorThings. In most browsers, you can check this in the address bar or in your browser's site settings. Refresh the page after granting permission.
The session seems unresponsive Try refreshing the page. If the issue continues, check your internet connection and try a different browser. TutorThings works on Chrome, Edge, Safari, and Firefox.
The tutor's voice sounds cut off or choppy This is usually a connection issue. A stronger WiFi signal or switching to a wired connection typically helps. On mobile, cellular data can sometimes cause inconsistency.