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The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic has led to major disruptions in the field of education. The shutting down of schools, colleges, and universities, further made the deliverance and reception of education, difficult. To fill the space, educators all around the world were asked to execute their classes through an online medium. This is easier said than done. To be an online teacher, one requires a threshold technical aptitude and fresh teaching skills. It is very different from how a traditional class would operate. Here, we present you with 5 top-tier tips which you can incorporate into your online teaching mechanism to make its experience, worthwhile.
Also Read: 5 Ways to Learn New Skills Online
1. Go for the Right Platforms
Before you decide to host your first lecture online, you should do your thorough research on platforms that you can make use of for executing your class smoothly. There are a variety of teaching apps available in the market today. You should opt for the one which has the best interactive tools, e-board, smooth video conferencing as well as chat room facility to begin with. These are the fundamentals to have a smooth online class running. One such teaching app is Teachmint. It incorporates all the aforementioned facilities along with other interactive tools which makes your online teaching process, flawless.
2. Have Clear Instructions going
An invite sends a confirmation of commencement of class to the students. It is good to send an invite rather than verbally or textually telling your students to have a notice of your class lecture. Invites are generally video conferencing based, wherein the students can be told the theme or agenda of the class as an introduction. You can also pre-inform your students to have a set of pre-requisite things read, in case they are mandatory. A reminder text can be sent 15 minutes before the invite as well.
3. Security is Must.
Online education is mostly criticized for its virtual nature that can go uncontrolled. The beginning of these classes was met by negative receptions as alien elements would enter the classroom portals and abuse other students and teachers. With proper awareness and preparation, these malicious incidents can be neglected. Let’s look how –
- Meetings must be protected with password security
- Meetings must always be recorded.
- Invites must not be shared on public platforms.
- You must use waiting rooms to have a notice of whoever is joining the set meeting.
- You must tell the attendees to use their official names as their usernames.
- Manage or reject any suspicious joiner right at the moment.
4. Faces are Important
A voice giving a lecture on an online medium is not at all fun or engaging for the listeners. Hence, it is advised for both teachers as well as students, to always turn their webcams on, for direct interaction. This establishes a personal interaction with students and incorporates a human touch into the meeting. You should find a well lit comfortable place for the same. Make sure that domestic noises do not hamper the process. You may convey the same to your students.
5. Regular Feedback is Mandatory
Last but not the least, do not forget to solicit and submit regular feedback from and to your online students. It bridges any gaps and brings light to the issues faced by either of the parties. It also gives room for improvisation on both ends. It is fair enough to entertain valuable feedback as many people are new to this paradigm of education. It helps in addressing various concerns, track progress; suggest changes, and building confidence.
Ways of receiving or giving out feedback are personal. You may do it over a call, on video conferencing, e-mail, or chat. You may or may not involve parents. You may send it individually, or keep it transparent in front of the whole class. That is completely an individual preference.
On a Final Note,
Transitioning into the realms of online education from traditional methodology is not an easy process. Learning to unlearn different ways is easier said than done. Striving to make these classes fun and amusing is even more nerve-racking.
The secret recipe is engagement. The most important thing to do in an online paradigm is to retain your audience’s attention and keep them hooked. Hope our top 5 tips help you in your online teaching journey. Stay tuned for more tips and tricks on online teaching.
Happy teaching!
