If the idea of going back to school online is nerve-wracking, you aren’t alone! Will our district decide to go online for a marking period, a semester, or not at all? What happens if the school or a class has to quarantine and go online at some point during the year?
While those fear-filled questions can be the stuff of nightmares, relax. The Practical Science Teachers want to help with three helpful tips that are easy to implement for starting online teaching.
My experience with videos and Zoom learning this spring was, let’s just say, disastrous! Zoom got easier, but recording a video remains pretty confusing. There wasn’t enough space on my phone or iPad to record a whole lesson. Discussion with other teachers was fraught with frustration. Sound familiar? It turns out we were overthinking everything so the first tip for online teaching is simple.
It’s important to remember that not all students have access to the same devices. Some students may have to sit in a fast-food parking lot for internet access and have to complete assignments on a phone. Keep in mind that simple programs don’t equate to surface level tasks.
The KISS Principle
You’ve heard of the KISS principle? It stands for Keep It Super Simple (for our purposes). Simplicity is the foundation.
Your learning management system has likely been chosen by your district. Now, it’s time to make the process as uncomplicated as possible for your students and their families. Here are some tips:
Don’t Forget SEL!
Rigor is crucial whether we teach online or in a classroom. However, our students’ social-emotional learning is equally important during this time. Students want to be in a classroom and be comfortable with you.
This may be a crazy year so these strategies may help calm students as well as their parents.
Flexibility
Finally, be flexible! Video lessons and put them online then use your class time to discuss what was learned. Start with the Big Questions and post those before you start a new unit. Remember that students will be partly responsible for their learning. That is a good thing. But, some students will be taking care of younger siblings during the day or at a care-giver’s home. They may not be able to log on at the time you set. Some students may need to review the material as they work on tasks. Remember to record your Zoom or Google Meet lessons or meetings and post those videos for students to view later. Make sure students can download any missed lessons. Rigid deadlines may have to go by the wayside. Let them share videos of their investigations. Yes, it will be abnormal to do, but this is an abnormal year!
Enjoy the beginning of the year no matter how it starts!
Be on the lookout for more tips and tricks to make online learning smooth.
Resources:
Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute Teacher Guide to Online Learning