Covid-19 has taken a huge hit on all industries but mostly education with schools being closed for a whole year in most parts of the world. Due to health concerns and students safety, 90% of the countries shifted to online learning. Even though online learning is absolutely not easy, students and teachers are trying their best to adapt to it. There’s a huge difference between physical and online learning which affects the focus as well. Regardless, of the complications there’s not much anyone can do because attending physical classes can get risky. However, as a teacher you can make online learning easier by following some simple tips mentioned below.
Help the students with technological setup
Understand that not every student is tech literate and everyone has a different level of compatibility with gadgets. Be patient and help your students set up the online system calmly. They could face difficulty in downloading the software, signing in or with the audio/video. With your guidance and patience, they can learn and get confidence to move further. In such trying times students are already at a loss so it is important to boost their moral at every given chance.
Give a variety of learning options
Every student has different circumstance and therefore, it is important that they get different options. Not every family can afford a separate laptop/PC and room for each child. Most siblings across the world have to share gadgets and rooms. This cause problem if all of them are in different grades and have live classes. It is advised to give multiple options like recorded lectures, assignments via email, home calls, and chat discussions to encourage everyone taking part. It will make the students feel at ease and not pressurize of having separate gadget and privacy to attend live lectures only.
Set up your home environment accordingly
It is already quite a task to maintain focus via a screen and casual home environment for the students. As a teacher you can choose to sit at a place which has a little formal setup to make students feel more careful. If you are sitting at a place where everyone is passing by at the back of your camera, students will keep getting distracted and will not get a schooling vibe. Obviously, teachers also cannot always afford such privacy but you can try. Even sitting in your bedroom with the wall at the back will do the job.
Assign regular group/pair work
To maintain somewhat physical schooling vibe, assign group/pair tasks which encourage students to interact with each other. It will help them to socialize as well as concentrate on the topic and learn more effectively. When there’s a partner or group members included, students tend to put in more effort in learning. Moreover, students who are usually shy to speak up in public will also get a chance to understand and present. In such projects, the students can also visit each other to come online together if they want.
Be proactive
As a teacher you have a huge responsibility in shaping your students’ personality. Effect of a good teacher lasts for a lifetime and makes one a better person. Be more considerate and kind toward all your students. Understand that different people might have different circumstances. Maybe someone is at their best in the first week and then stressed out in the week four due to personal issues. In such uncertain times, people are losing jobs so parents losing job can affect the home environment and make students anxious. Similarly, a lot of students cant afford personal laptop for classes and might feel embarrassed which affects their confidence online. By being there for them and showing them that you understand, you will give them hope and courage.
Ask for feedback
Ask for feedback from all the students. This way the students will share their strength and weaknesses especially related to online learning. It will help you to mold your teaching style and make online learning easier for them as per their expectations and feasibility. Feedback will also help you as a teacher to design your course and techniques in the most effective way possible.
Mix different styles
To make online learning easier and not boring, the best way is to mix different teaching techniques. For example, you can give lecture for the first 20 minutes and then include a group discussion session. It will keep the students involved and you will be also sure that all of them are paying attention. Instead of sleeping behind the screens.
