When classrooms turned into computer screens, and learning happened from afar, teachers now have to learn new tricks to make online classes great. They are looking for smart ways to make online teaching and eLearning effective.
If you’re one of them, we’ve listed the top tips for effective online teaching. Read on!
Tip 1: Be ready and steady to go!!
Before your class starts, check everything. The most important thing to consider is to be familiar with the online learning platform. Look at your slides on a phone or tablet to ensure they look right. Test any links to websites or other stuff you’re using. Get a friend to look at your class on their computer to see if anything’s wrong before your students join.
Take some time to plan your eLearning course. This includes creating a schedule for your lessons and organizing all the necessary materials. Doing this will help you feel more confident and prepared when it’s time to teach. Also, check your internet to make sure videos and calls will work smoothly. Doing this helps avoid tech problems.
Tip 2: Work together – We are a team!!
Collaboration is another important aspect of effective online teaching. Working together and helping each other is a big part of online classes. Online classes can sometimes feel isolating, so creating opportunities for interaction and participation is essential. Teachers should set up group activities and chats so students can learn from each other. Moreover, make sure everyone can join in, no matter what.
Group your students to work together on group projects or assignments. This grouping helps them learn from each other, fosters teamwork, and improves communication skills. Many online collaboration tools or platforms are available to facilitate group projects.
Tip 3: Make It Fun
Online learning can sometimes feel monotonous. You can use videos, pictures, and fun activities to make online sessions enjoyable. You can create interactive quizzes or play educational games with your students. This makes both teaching and learning more satisfying and engaging.
Tip 4: Keeping Online Classes Honest
Everyone deserves a fair shot. Teachers use grading rules and ask students to check each other’s work to ensure everyone gets a fair grade.
To keep things fair, we need to stop cheating. Teachers can do this by watching students closely during tests or using quizzes online.
Copying should be a big no. You can use plagiarism tools like Grammarly to check if your students copy their work elsewhere. Make your students understand that it’s important to hand in your work and not copy from others.
Tip 5: Try a little different style
Online teaching lets you be creative. Apart from lectures and readings, try interactive games. Get students to talk about what they read. Let them share ideas. Not everyone learns the same way. Some like reading, others like listening, and some prefer doing activities. So, it is better to use a mix of methods to suit everyone’s style.
Here are some methods:
- Let students teach each other. Assign group projects where they research and present topics to their peers.
- Show your students how things work through interactive demos or simulations.
- Create scenarios for students to act out or simulate real-life situations related to the topic. This helps apply knowledge to the real world.
- Invite experts to join your class. Their unique perspectives can provide valuable insights and make learning more exciting.
- You should be flexible and willing to adjust your lessons based on your student’s needs and feedback.
Online teaching is always changing, and thus, teachers have to keep trying new things to make it work. The above tips will help you make your online teaching more effective.
