As COVID-19 continues to spread and cities go into quarantine, more schools have been forced to close. These closures may go on for weeks, even months.
How can teachers and school administrators step up to the challenge?
Thanks to the internet and collaborative software, teachers can still conduct lessons online.
Teachers can set up virtual classrooms with teamwork hubs like Microsoft Teams, which is available for free to educational institutions. Using this tool, teachers can show PowerPoint presentations, use a digital whiteboard in real-time, and share links to the best online supporting sources.
Here are some tips that will help you get the best results from distance learning tools:
- Record lectures instead of streaming
- Show your face for a personal touch
- Limit each lesson 15 minutes or less
- Test if slides are mobile-friendly
- Use existing open-access resources
- Give specific and detailed instructions
- Provide interactive activities
- Make sure all content and navigation are accessible using the keyboard alone
- Set reasonable expectations
- Use auto-checking to measure participation
- Use group communications carefully
- Let students take control of certain activities
Don’t forget to express sympathy and encouragement to both students and their parents, who often oversee the online lessons at home. These are trying times, but we can still maintain connection even while practicing social distancing.