4 Tips to Help Educators Adjust to Online Teaching

The coronavirus pandemic has closed schools across the nation.  It is not known whether classrooms will reopen this year or not, and in knowing that, teachers are trying to find ways to teach students from a distance with online learning. 

If you’re a teacher searching for techniques to help students acquire an engaging learning environment while out of the classroom, follow these 4 tips:

Simplicity is Essential

One challenge of distance learning is that a teacher and their students can’t work through problems together in person.  In the classroom, students can rely on their peers and their instructor to help them if they get stuck. Projects that students are working on at home might require a significant level of self-direction.

With this in mind, simplicity is key. Teachers should design lessons or experiences that have clear direction, and don’t utilize many resources. However when resources are necessary, its good practice to provide these resources in readings such as PDFs.  This is an easy way to allow students to always be able to access documents.

Create a Digital Home Base

In following the idea of simplicity, an important aspect of distance learning is to set up a digital home base.  This could be in the form of management systems such as Canvas or Google Classroom, or it can be in the form of a self-created class website.

By creating a Home Base for the students, they have somewhere to go for all of the most recent and up-to-date information. A Home Base offers a familiar, comfortable place where they can access tools, information and resources.  When you can’t physically be with your students, it is important to create stability and normalcy in their learning environment, and a home base offers that.

Plan Longer, Student-Driven Assignments

To manage your time properly plan longer, student-driven assignments and projects that give you time to plan for future assignments. Some ideas can include lessons that set clear checkpoints in the future, as well as assignments that get them off the computer. Perhaps instruct them to have discussion with family on the lessons they’re working on.  Also, allow students to have an element of choice in their project to build engagement.

Conduct Individual Checkpoints

One thing that students may miss more than anything else is the human connection within your classroom. The small interactions that are had before, during and after classes are irreplaceable. Although the purpose of digital instruction is to allow the students to complete their assignments, it’s equally important to create time for personalized checkpoints with your students. Whether it be through email, phone call, or video chat through your learning management system, create a structure for this and maintain it.

Remember, creating an engaging distance learning experience is going to be difficult at first because it’s new to everyone. Embrace the challenge of tackling this obstacle and stay positive.

Story via Edutopia