After teaching 100% online over the past two years, there is some
practicality to using all of the online resources and technology. It can become
overwhelming to have so much information to try to determine what is right for
your classroom. How do you pick the right resources, software platforms
and community building tools? How do you mirror face to face
instruction? Will the students be engaged and complete work?
Online
learning has taught me first and foremost, to choose my resources,
software platform and community building tools that mirrored my
face-to-face teaching style. If you are using journaling for example,
find a journaling application like SeeSaw, Google Forms, Microsoft
Forms, etc. that will mirror what you already do. Keep it simple, don't
reinvent yourself! However, you do need to communicate, communicate,
communicate! Feedback is probably the most important and overlooked
element of online instruction.
In the 100% online environment, I have to communicate more frequently than I ever had. I needed to
slow down and think through every statement I would write, asking myself
- how does my message sound? Curt? Harsh? Welcoming? Kind? I communicate 3-4 times more frequently than I did in a
face-to-face classroom environment. I have to make myself real to my
students and vice versa, them real to me.
In grading assignments online, I give feedback in a minimum of three ways to students.
I use a standards based rubric, written feedback on students papers,
verbal and/or one-on-one feedback via voice recorder or zoom and a
comment of where to view, listen or read my feedback. Consistency is the
KEY!! I keep a Word document open with common exemplary and
critical feedback statements for each assignment. In having these statements set up a head of time, each student
is hearing the same consistent message. The key to student acceptance of critical feedback and striving to do better is building community and respect in your online learning environment.
Using community building strategies is vital the first two weeks of teaching. I have two main goals during this time. The first goal, is to make a personal connection with EVERY student during the first week of class by engaging them in a welcome collaborative activity and one-on-one phone call or video message to each student that they can reply to. The second goal, is to build up every student's confidence and motivation in the online learning environment. This means, you are the cheerleader of your class. I give at least two compliments to every critical feedback statement.
When
COVID hit, I sent out a SPARK video of encouragement to all students with pictures of
my soon to be certified therapy dog to my classes. This
was one of the most well received messages of the semester. I have now incorporated
encouraging/motivational messages along with my overview every two weeks of the semester to keep students upbeat and
motivated. I use Microsoft Teams and the add on application Bookings for all of my office
hours. This makes everything seamless so students can see me and here me, as well as share computer viewing of assignments we are discussing. I purchased a green screen and I put pictures of different
places around the world. The students look surprised at first and then soon became curious enough to ask me about the pictures I was using. This opened up personal conversations to determine how my
students are doing not just academically, but socially and emotionally.
Online teaching is more than academics. You are still working with the whole person, child, parent or colleagues. A well organized curriculum (modules/lessons), integrated technology that sparks interest/motivation and engagement, communication, community building, and ways to check in on the social/emotional well-being of your students is key to successful online course implementation.If you would like more information on Online Teaching, please see my new page: Virtual Classroom Resources!
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