{"id":30368,"date":"2020-03-25T14:56:14","date_gmt":"2020-03-25T14:56:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/graphicmama.com\/blog\/?p=30368"},"modified":"2022-08-03T06:41:24","modified_gmt":"2022-08-03T06:41:24","slug":"teaching-strategies-remote-online-learning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/graphicmama.com\/blog\/teaching-strategies-remote-online-learning\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Teaching Strategies Adapted for Remote Online Learning"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you are struggling to get your head around online remote teaching, trust me you are not alone. You’ve spent years training and teaching honing the strategies that serve you well in the classroom, and suddenly you’ve been asked to teach in a completely different way than you’ve been used to. You don’t have much choice – so let’s look at how to use the experience you’ve got and adapt it to teaching online. Sometimes you might have to do face-to-face classes remotely, sometimes it’s disseminating work via email, you might have to get used to a completely new platform for delivering lessons and organizing learning, there are challenges for sure – but it is really that different? Here are 10 tips to take into consideration when planning and teaching. You’ll have your own ideas -you are after all teachers, but these may prove helpful and are certainly reminders of good practice.<\/p>\n

1. Get to know your platform<\/a>
\n2. Create an online classroom environment<\/a>
\n3. Engage with your learners online<\/a>
\n4. Be organized<\/a>
\n5. Use a variety of instruction strategies<\/a>
\n6. Be present<\/a>
\n7. Provide ongoing feedback<\/a>
\n8. Collaborate with other teachers<\/a>
\n9. Reflect on the lessons<\/a>
\n10. Maximize your professional development<\/a><\/p>\n

You may also be interested in these\u00a025 Free Education PowerPoint Templates For Lessons, Thesis, and Online Lectures<\/a>.<\/p>\n

1. Get to know your platform<\/h2>\n
\"Teaching

Image by Pexels<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Put a link somewhere in this section to different platforms which we did before.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

This is so important, whether you are using a completely new system or incorporating a well-known system into your teaching, the key is to know what it can and can’t do. The more familiar you are with the platform, the more comfortable you will feel and the more professional you will come across to your learners. Your confidence will give them confidence in you. Most online communication platforms allow file sharing and screen sharing at the very least, so get to grips with them. Interactive whiteboards, private messaging, mute buttons, waiting rooms (for removing students temporarily) break-out rooms for group work, remote annotation, and assessment tools are all invaluable tools but you need practice -once you’ve got it, you’ve got it! Help sites, forums, system support, friends and colleagues, and internal training are all possibilities when you need to know something. Most teachers are in the same boat, don’t be afraid to ask.<\/p>\n

Be aware that not all students will be accessed through a computer or laptop and things can look very different on different devices, not to mention the possibility of downloading or uploading work.<\/p>\n

Make sure to check your settings, what you can allow students to do, and what you don’t want to. If you’re in a school, you may well have standard settings required, if you don’t, please check through your settings. Certain systems allow students to chat, private messages, and give permission for remote access, virtual background, and camera control. It is best to spend some time before rather than being picked up the pieces during or after.<\/p>\n

Is this really so different from your physical teaching – knowing the school standards and expectations, fire prevention rather than firefighting.<\/p>\n

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2. Create an online classroom environment<\/h2>\n
\"Teaching

Image by Pexels<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Creating a positive learning environment is one of the key elements of your teacher training and it applies to online remote learning too. As an online teacher, it is just as important to create a safe and supportive environment as in the physical classroom. In some ways, this can be easier than in class, as students should feel secure in their own surroundings and you have relatively more control over who speaks to each other and when. Classroom management is still important. Again check your settings.<\/p>\n

Teachers need to be fair, positive, and consistent for students to feel comfortable in the remote classroom. Students should be equal given the chance to speak or annotate work as you would in class. This needs effort as it is not as natural online as you would expect, especially if some students don’t have a webcam or have a poor connection.
\nAnother teaching strategy is to encourage learners to work together as an active learning community, which brings benefits to all individuals involved. Students may be able to forward work to friends who have missed a class for whatever reasons, they can explain what work was covered, etc. Students are in contact with each other anyway so why not utilize this in your lessons.
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3. Engage with your learners online<\/h2>\n
\"Teaching

Image by Pexels<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Here put in the free graphic mama offer for credits<\/em>
\nIn the classroom you have a physical presence, so now you have to establish a virtual presence to match. This is probably a difficult time for all involved so teachers need to be supportive and understanding of potential issues with this new way of schooling. But you also need to be engaging, you are still the teacher and your communication skills shouldn’t change. You are the leader, you are in charge, and you are in control of the learning. You need to be visible and available, within limits. (See be present tip below) Set timetables where you are available to help and answer questions but do not be available 24\/7, you need time away from the screen too.
\nYou can engage outside the lesson with online posts, set up forums, or social media (not your personal account of course) It may be worth setting up a separate email account to help keep a distance between work and private life. If you’re seen as putting time and effort into this new approach students appreciate it and will put in more effort too.
\nIf you are giving worksheets and presentations, characterize or personalize them. You can download free sets of editable characters to use even animated ones, these bring a bit of life and gain attention. If you keep a consistent character the work also becomes instantly recognizable as yours, and stands out from the blur of information the student might be getting. Think of business branding basically, it’s the same idea.
\nThe idea that we cannot enjoy teaching because there is a loss of interaction is simply not true. You are still performing, if humor and energy are key tools in your classroom, why should that change.\u00a0\u00a0In an online classroom, it is easy to be drawn into the idea that your teaching style can get lost in technology. Be aware that your students often communicate in this way as a normal part of their day-to-day life.
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4. Be organized<\/h2>\n
\"Teaching

Image by Pexels<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Materials<\/h4>\n

When organizing your lesson materials, think like your students. The resources need to be easy to find, easy to work on, and easy to access. You know exactly how frustrating it is to try to get something and have to go through multiple processes, by the time you get it you’ve lost interest. This is exactly how the student feels, frustrated, discouraged, irritated, and certain, not ready to put their best efforts into the work itself.\u00a0 Come up with a system that is consistent and user-friendly, explain methodically where things are and what exactly to do. In a short time, it will become second nature. Even consistency of style in your writing, fonts, headings, and software will help ease the stress for both you and the students involved.<\/p>\n

Yourself<\/h4>\n