With the spread of COVID-19, many schools have moved their curriculum online. Of course, the safety of students and teachers alike is of the utmost importance right now, but in this time of decreased social interaction, it is important to make sure that education does not slip into the back seat. Teachers have adjusted to this new technologically reliant way of teaching in a variety of ways. Here are some basic tips to help make the transition to online classes a little bit easier.
While online classes are not a substitute for an in-person lesson plan, they are certainly the best option during this time. One essential way to make the most of online teaching is to clarify learning objectives. Presenting students with the exact criteria and steps of what they will be learning, provides them with a clear goal as to what they should know by the end of the lesson. Stripping a lesson down to its essential components and then building from those foundational ideas will help students to keep up with the material that is being taught. Instead of giving students the entire bulk of knowledge in one sitting, it is helpful to provide them with exactly what they will need to know and then to break up the steps into manageable chunks. Clarifying learning objectives is a great way to make sure that students understand the exact information that they will be responsible for knowing.
Another way to make sure that your students are getting the most out of their homeschool /online class time is to keep in mind the principle of “quality over quantity” when providing assignments. Giving students a large block of assignments might seem like a good way to compensate for lost in-person class time, but the reality is that they may feel overwhelmed by the sudden influx of homework assignments. Keep in mind that many students are not accustomed to working from home, and they could be having a hard time focusing as well as balancing new responsibilities. Providing clear and meaningful assignments is a good way to keep students engaged while also ensuring that they learn the required information.
One way to support students during this time is to ask them if they have any questions and listen closely to their answers. It is important to make feedback a priority since students in a lot of cases are unable to ask direct questions. By asking for feedback and answering questions in a timely manner, it will be easier for students to learn the material, and it will also assure them that their teachers are still willing to assist them.
Perhaps the most important thing to remember is to be patient and flexible; every student comes from a different home environment and is learning to adapt in different ways. It may be necessary to make accommodations that were not necessary in the past or to give some students extra time due to technological limitations. Making online learning as effective as possible will ensure that students still get the education they deserve.
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