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Lot of teachers are back at their computers this morning, facing the task of engaging young people online for the next few weeks. I'm definitely no expert, just been teaching my university students online since September and I've picked up a few tips if they are any use to you
Online teaching gives you the opportunity to easily pull in videos, music, images in a way we might not have done had we been in the classroom. Google Classroom, Zoom, Skype all allow you to share your screen and break up your lesson every 15 minutes or so. Lean on your media
Always show your face on video. Students don't engage with just a voice in the ether. Create a home classroom with interesting pictures/posters in the background. God, these are tough times, but be animated and passionate about your subject if you can. Enthusiasm is infectious
One silver lining of this pandemic is that online teaching tools have exploded. Some are fabulous, such as Flipgrid - https://info.flipgrid.com - which allow you to engage with young people on a social platform they can relate to. The app also has a Discovery Library. Amazing!
More It has also opened up a whole world of possibilities for our students here in NI, from helping with learning languages - https://www.duolingo.com - to using flashcards to help students with history on https://quizlet.com/en-gb , the world is our oyster at the present time
It has also opened up a whole world of possibilities for our students here in NI, from helping with learning languages - https://www.duolingo.com - to using flashcards to help students with history on https://quizlet.com/en-gb , the world is our oyster at the present time
Beyond Zoom and Classroom, there are so many other tools online these days to aid engagement. My Quiz is a fun one to do at the end of a class - https://myquiz.org . It allows you to host quizzes for up to 25 people, shows points, who’s leading, and celebrates the winners
Students are just as stressed as the rest of us. If you have time in the school schedule for a little meditation, it works absolute wonders to calm anxious minds. Great video for younger kids - - and for teenagers -
Teachers have been absolute heroes during this pandemic, securing a future for our kids, even though the present is so uncertain. Everything wont be perfect. Your kids will interrupt, your dog will bark, the smoke alarm will go off, you’ll have tech issues. It’s all good
These are trying times for us all. Teaching online can be stressful. Take 10 minutes to yourself at the end of the day to restore your calm too. There are so many 10 minute meditation videos out there to help ground you. This one is great.
Teachers, if you have any apps/platforms that worked especially well for you, let me know. As Big Boris says, we’re all in this together. Very best of luck. Us parents appreciate you so, so much in all of this. We are in awe of your resilience. You are amazing. Never forget that
