The switch to online learning wasn’t simple, but COVID-19 made it a necessity. Even though 2021 holds promise to more in-person interaction, we all know online learning is here to stay, too. (Ready here on why) To help support teachers of all kinds, we’ve gathered twelve great tips and tricks for offering high-quality online education:
1. Prepare for the Inevitable
2. Set Up for Success
3. Train in on the Tech
This is especially necessary for beginners. Dedicate a portion of your first class to helping students understand how the technical side of the program works. Even if you spend most of your first session doing so, your well-prepared students will be worth it in the end. Many online teaching platforms have guides and videos to help you get started, too.
4. Sit Back and Listen
“If you want to master something, teach it. The more you teach, the better you learn. Teaching is a powerful tool for learning.” – Professor Richard Feynman, world-renowned physicist.
Sometimes, the best way to learn is by teaching. Allowing students to get “in front of the class,” even if it is on a screen, will allow them to understand the information on a deeper level. It’ll boost their confidence levels and independence, too, giving them much more than just core subject matter to take away from what you teach.
5. Don’t Forget About Time Zones
6. Consistency is Key
7. Keep the Conversations Going
8. Give Students Some Space
9. Reach Out to the Unresponsive
Just like with face-to-face learning, there will be students that seem to be unmotivated or unresponsive. Set a plan to reach out to these students and ask if there’s anything you can do to help them succeed. You may be surprised by the responses you recieve.
10. Use the Internet to Your Advantage
The internet is a bottomless pit of information,readily available to students and teachers at all times. Since your learners are already on their computers, their best tools and resources are online versions. News sites, online videos, digital publications, and audio playlists will be far more engaging to the students than a simple PDF file
Don’t forget that the internet also comes with misinformation and scams. Always check that facts come from a credible source and use sites that are verified as safe when making suggestions to students.
11. Encourage Interaction on All Accounts
12. Focus on the Feedback
What's Next?
Even if it’s impossible to implement all of these tips as you get started with online teaching, bearing them in mind can make a big difference. Just remember that the first and last thing you need to do is to keep your students engaged. As we learn more about how online learning works, we’ll strive to improve every step of the way. Clickto is here to help you do it better, too. learn more about the incredible online classroom management tools we have to offer.
