Schools are closing. Thousands of teachers will be teaching online for the first time in their lives, and students deserve to keep learning.
Here’s my advice to teachers.
1. Bring extra energy: You need extra energy when you’re teaching online. Turn up your energy by 50%.
Here’s my advice to teachers.
1. Bring extra energy: You need extra energy when you’re teaching online. Turn up your energy by 50%.
2. Give students 1-on-1 time.
Online teaching platforms make 1-on-1 discussion easy. Use them deliberately. Students on their computers are much more likely to get distracted, but small group conversations about the material wake them up.
Online teaching platforms make 1-on-1 discussion easy. Use them deliberately. Students on their computers are much more likely to get distracted, but small group conversations about the material wake them up.
3. Follow the 30/30/30/10 Rule.
As a general rule of thumb, 30% of your time should be a lecture, 30% should be 1-on-1 discussion, and 30% should be for class discussion, and the other 10% should be for the introduction and conclusion.
As a general rule of thumb, 30% of your time should be a lecture, 30% should be 1-on-1 discussion, and 30% should be for class discussion, and the other 10% should be for the introduction and conclusion.
4. Nail the lighting.
Adding light to your face is the best way for students to connect with you. Sit against a wall, not a window. Otherwise, the camera will be over-exposed. Purchase a selfie light so students can see your facial expressions.
Adding light to your face is the best way for students to connect with you. Sit against a wall, not a window. Otherwise, the camera will be over-exposed. Purchase a selfie light so students can see your facial expressions.
5. Take extra notes
You’re going to be out of your element, so prepare as if you’re going to be confused. Put your notes next to your computer, so you can easily refer to them. If you need an example, this is what one of my lesson plans looks like.
evernote.com/l/AUfYP_EXor1O…
You’re going to be out of your element, so prepare as if you’re going to be confused. Put your notes next to your computer, so you can easily refer to them. If you need an example, this is what one of my lesson plans looks like.
evernote.com/l/AUfYP_EXor1O…
6. Nail the Structure
Students want to know what you’re going to teach that day. Send an email 60 minutes before class with the link to the call. Tell them what you’re going to tell them, tell then, and tell them what you told them. Then, follow-up with your notes from the call.
Students want to know what you’re going to teach that day. Send an email 60 minutes before class with the link to the call. Tell them what you’re going to tell them, tell then, and tell them what you told them. Then, follow-up with your notes from the call.
7. Take your own notes during the call.
Keep a pen and paper next to you as you teach the course. Your paper should have the schedule, any promises you make to students during the class, and a record of mistakes you make so they don’t happen again.
Keep a pen and paper next to you as you teach the course. Your paper should have the schedule, any promises you make to students during the class, and a record of mistakes you make so they don’t happen again.
8. Record and share the video recording.
If you’re using Zoom, you can record every lecture. Send the recording to students in the follow-up email, so they can re-watch parts they might have missed. Class recordings are one of the big advantages of online education.
If you’re using Zoom, you can record every lecture. Send the recording to students in the follow-up email, so they can re-watch parts they might have missed. Class recordings are one of the big advantages of online education.
9. Video on.
Ask students to keep their video on for the entire class. It’s the best way to create relationships among your students. Also, you can see when they are excited or frustrated. A class without video is a class without community. Your screen should look like this.
Ask students to keep their video on for the entire class. It’s the best way to create relationships among your students. Also, you can see when they are excited or frustrated. A class without video is a class without community. Your screen should look like this.
10. Use the chat
Every 30 minutes, give students a prompt based on what you’re teaching and ask them to write a 50-word response in the chat. Students benefit from hearing what everybody is thinking, and as a teacher, you’ll know where students are stuck or confused.
Every 30 minutes, give students a prompt based on what you’re teaching and ask them to write a 50-word response in the chat. Students benefit from hearing what everybody is thinking, and as a teacher, you’ll know where students are stuck or confused.
Turning up your energy, asking students to turn on their video, and giving students time for 1-on-1 discussions are the best things you can do. In many ways, teaching online is already more effective than traditional education if you use follow these guidelines.
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You can subscribe here.
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