Online education is becoming more popular as students and employees pursue their education and professional development through eLearning courses. However, teaching online requires different methods than traditional classroom learning. Online pedagogy techniques and tips help educators create engaging asynchronous and synchronous online lessons. Educators must also be familiar with online learners’ tools and how they work.
Know Your Content
Online learning provides students with a variety of experiences and opportunities to connect. They can attend live-streamed college lectures, learn a new language through video calls, or even practice their writing skills in an online workshop. All these tools allow learners to access their content in a way that fits into their lives. To make the most of these virtual learning tools, instructors must understand their contents and how to use them. This knowledge can improve your online teaching skills and create a more engaging online learning experience for students. For example, when designing a new class, it is essential to consider how to incorporate technology into the lesson plan best. This could mean creating an interactive slideshow or using a video-conferencing tool to conduct live sessions. Additionally, it is essential to communicate how to use these tools with students early and often. This will help to ensure that they have a clear understanding of how to participate in the class and will be able to ask questions as needed.
Know Your Students
Knowing your students is critical to effective teaching, which is even more true for online learning. Online teaching is unique in allowing students to learn from anywhere with an internet connection. They can attend livestream college lectures, coach themselves through online video courses, or read and discuss assignments with classmates. For an online teacher, it’s essential to know their students for engagement and participation purposes and to provide the best learning environment possible. To do so, teachers should ensure that their virtual classrooms are clear and navigable. They can do so by setting up a hub where all resources are accessible and walking students through the suite of technology tools they’ll use. In addition, teachers can use surveys and other feedback forms to learn more about their students’ interests and needs. This may include the types of books they like to read, music they listen to, t.v. They show their favorite communication channels (emails, texts, Teams). Then, they can ensure their teaching methods are tailored to those needs.
Know Your Technology
Online learning frees students from set schedules and working in physical classrooms, but instructors are still responsible for ensuring their virtual learners have a rich educational experience. This is why online certifications are an excellent way for teachers to hone their skills and prepare for a fully online classroom. Technology enables teachers to create engaging lessons and assignments that help their students understand course material in a way that is different from the traditional classroom setting. However, if used poorly, technology can distract from learning and prevent kids from developing digital literacy. In addition, online teaching requires troubleshooting common technical problems and communicating effectively with students who may have questions or concerns about course materials. It also requires a transparent, easy-to-navigate student platform where students can access the class material and receive instructor feedback on assignments. In addition, many online courses require students to interact with each other through discussion boards or social media, so instructors need to foster a positive community and support system for their students.
Know Your Assessment Tools
Access to the right online assessment tools can help you assess student knowledge and understanding more effectively. Knowing how to use these tools can also help you tailor your teaching style and methods based on the needs of your students. One of the best ways to gauge student understanding is using formative assessments. These are low-stakes assessments that can be used throughout a lesson or unit. They can be used in the form of a quiz, journaling about a topic, or even a quick class survey. Summative assessments are high-stakes exams that heavily influence a student’s overall grade. These include midterm exams, term papers, and AP tests. Another great way to assess student understanding is by using diagnostic assessments. These assessments are given at the beginning of a course, semester, or school year to discover what a student already knows about a subject. This can be done through a survey, quizzes, or video responses.
Know Your Evaluation Tools
Online learning can be an excellent option for students because it eliminates many of the limitations of attending traditional classes at school. However, the transition to online learning can also pose challenges for teachers. Developing online teaching skills can help teachers overcome some of these obstacles. Having the right tools can make it easier for instructors to teach online and provide students with the same high-quality education they would receive in classrooms. One of the most essential online teaching skills is communicating clearly. It’s important to use the correct tone and language when communicating with students and to follow appropriate standards of conduct. In addition, instructors need to know their assessment tools. These tools can be helpful when creating online assignments, providing feedback, and assessing student performance. They can also be used to develop online assessments using templates such as K-W-L (what students know, want to know and learn) or 3-2-1 (three things they found interesting, two things they learned, and one thing they didn’t understand). A good understanding of these tools will ensure that students get the highest quality of instruction.
