10 Tips for Online Teaching

Everyone is growing more accustomed to online or remote, teaching and learning. Online Teaching and Learning are the norms now. People, parents, as well as teachers, are benefitting from them. It is the age of the recession and online teaching platforms provide solutions to problems like lack of structure, and lack of flexibility for teachers. A lot of teachers are looking forward to teaching online classes in the coming future.

Best tips by teachers

Studies show that teachers struggle to comprehend what constitutes successful instruction and how to gauge pupils’ levels of interest. To solve this problem for many, we have compiled a blog with the best tips shared by teachers across the world.

1. Online instruction doesn’t have to be wholly distinct from classroom instruction

You should be clear about your learning objectives, which are the same whether teaching online or offline. The goal is to make sure that students grasp the knowledge. To help your students comprehend better, consider using a textbook and worksheets. Not all distance learning is conducted on electronic devices, some content works best if taught on a piece of paper.

The characteristics of a high-quality curriculum have not altered. It still needs meticulous planning so that students can incrementally expand their knowledge with each lesson.

The main differences are that you must find a different way to evaluate students’ work (for instance, by asking them to take pictures of their finished worksheets) and you might need to assign the work at a different time (for example, at the beginning of the day or week rather than during one specific lesson period). Apart from this, everything can be the same as before so that the children do not feel out of place while learning online.

2. Don’t be frightened to abandon live instruction

Live classes provide a lot of benefits and are very useful, but you shouldn’t feel obligated to offer them every day. You can assist your students to stay focused by using several lecture formats, such as externally produced or pre-recorded videos. A virtual lesson can often be more effective than live lecturing because it incorporates a range of assignments and assessments. Examine what works best for you, your students, and your content.

3. Online Teaching can be simple

Avoid overburdening them with pictures, illustrations, or pointless links because remote learning may be more distracting for some pupils. Use these features only to strategically break up the text or when they provide an effective demonstration of a vital subject. When attempting to convey a challenging idea to students who have never heard it before, it is crucial to use recorded narration and videos.

To account for the increased distractions, it is also a good idea to break up the instructional material into smaller sections than usual. Pick a few essential ideas to concentrate on each week. Avoid the temptation to assign students extensive projects or research work; studies have shown that doing so makes remote instruction less successful.

4. Request input from your students

Ask your students for their honest opinions about how they are finding your lessons every two weeks. You can do this by using a Google form or by posting it on a discussion board. Ask them about the subject matter and your teaching strategies, as well as any areas where they have questions or concerns or where they have ideas for improvement.

5. Evaluation and feedback are still crucial

Students need to be evaluated and given feedback to reinforce their comprehension, but you don’t have to be in the classroom to provide these things. The digital platform you use may already include assessments, or you can create quick tests or a variety of other tasks to be finished following brief sessions. This increases engagement and gives your pupils the chance to receive ongoing automatic feedback. You may develop a more comprehensive assessment after a class or topic to encourage reflection among your pupils and practise concept retrieval.

6. Be adaptable

It’s crucial to keep in mind that children may be dealing with challenging circumstances that could impair their ability to focus and study throughout the pandemic. Try to be accommodating and understanding; but, don’t tell them they have nothing to do; the continuity of some form of education might be beneficial to them.

7. Establish goals

Make sure your students are fully aware of what they may anticipate from you and what is expected of them. The tasks they will be given to complete (and when), the frequency of your communication with them, the digital tools you’ll employ, and your expectations for their behaviour, such as taking their lessons in a suitable setting if at all possible and muting their microphone when necessary, are a few examples.

If your lesson plans, resources, and outcomes change, you may need to alter your syllabus to clarify how the remote nature of the school year will differ from traditional classroom settings. Students must comprehend how each instruction relates to the overall scheme of things.

8. Consult with other educators and personnel at the institution

Use the fact that we are all in the same circumstance to your advantage by sharing your advice, resources, and lessons learned. Making an effort to stay in touch with your colleagues can make a huge impact because remote teaching might feel lonely.

9. Keep in touch frequently

Students become more motivated and self-assured if they believe that their teachers are “watching” them and are available at all times to answer their inquiries. You might keep in touch frequently by sending emails, posting on forums and discussion boards, and making announcements (including automated check-in emails asking where students have got up to with their work). While some communication should be private, some can be to the entire class.

10. Make use of timetables and other tools to assist you

When working from home, it’s really helpful to have a schedule to keep to because it makes sure you finish everything and do what you promised your students you would.

Conclusion

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, online learning is likely to become more widespread. By following the tips above, you can make sure that your students receive a high-quality education no matter where they are learning from.