The Escalating Need For Online Educators
According to Forbes, more than 10 million students took at least one distance education class in the fall of 2022. At the same time, the eLearning market is projected to grow by 20.5% from 2022 to 2030. To meet this rising demand for online education, teachers must develop and refine their online teaching skills using the online teaching tips and methods outlined in this article.
As seen with the COVID-19 pandemic, teaching online presents various challenges like determining how to engage students without being in a physical classroom and navigating technical issues. However, this article offers effective tips to overcome such challenges for effective and engaging online teaching. Additionally, it provides several online teaching methods to help educators create an online learning environment where students are invested in, supported throughout, and empowered to take ownership of their educational journey.
Understanding Online Teaching
Online teaching is the process of educating others using digital platforms and tools like virtual classrooms, video lectures, interactive tutorials, video conferencing, and online whiteboards. This is opposed to traditional in-person teaching, where educators teach others in physical classrooms.
Teaching students online offers several benefits. One advantage is flexibility because educators can instruct and students can learn from any location with a reliable internet connection. Teaching online also means that hundreds and even thousands of students can engage in the learning process because their education isn't confined to a physical setting. A related benefit is affordability. Remote classes are often less expensive than in-person ones, and both educators and students save money by not commuting to classrooms.
However, online teaching has various challenges as well. Among them are technical issues, limited interactions between educators and students, and fewer opportunities for connection. Additionally, not all subjects are suitable for teaching online. For example, math courses are often difficult to teach remotely because educators can't always help individual students solve problems and answer their questions in real time.
7 Engaging Online Teaching Methods
Educators can employ various methods to effectively teach students online. Here are seven of them:
1. Online Whiteboard
Educators can use online whiteboards, or digital versions of traditional whiteboards, to collaborate with students in real time and recreate the interactive nature of in-person classes. Online whiteboards also encourage students to get involved in their education by contributing their ideas directly to digital canvases. There are useful online whiteboard tools that allow users to sketch, leave sticky notes, import content, and collaborate both synchronously and asynchronously, making both online teaching and learning more engaging.
2. Flipped Classroom
A flipped classroom is when students learn material outside of class and use their actual class time to discuss the material and engage in other interactive activities. For example, students might work on assignments, complete quizzes, or debate about assigned topics. This model of teaching inspires students to take responsibility for their learning. It also enables instructors to answer students' questions and offer support instead of solely lecturing to them.
3. Discussion Boards And Forums
Discussion boards and forums allow students to respond to prompts, reflect on learning content, and engage with their classmates. Not only do these tools promote participatory learning and critical thinking, they also strengthen students' understanding of the course material. Learning Management Systems (LMSs) often have built-in discussion boards and forums. However, you can also create discussion boards using applications.
4. Live Lectures
Educators can use video conferencing software to deliver live lectures where they teach students in real time instead of having students watch prerecorded lectures at their leisure. That way, if students have questions, instructors can answer them immediately. Live lectures are also more personal because students can see, hear, and directly interact with their instructors as well as socialize with classmates. This can make learning more lively and interesting.
5. Gamification
Gamification applies gaming principles to non-game contexts to engage students. It often involves points, badges, leaderboards, levels, and more. You can use gamification to make learning more fun and interactive for students. They'll be able to engage in friendly competition with peers and receive rewards for their progress. One idea of how to integrate gamification into the virtual classroom is to use educational games to reinforce course content. Students can also earn badges for completing or excelling on assignments.
6. Interactive Assessments
Interactive assessments engage students through tests, games, simulations, and more. They provide immediate feedback so both educators and learners can identify areas of improvement. For instance, various platforms test students' knowledge through digital quizzes and games. Educators can then use the results of those assessments to adapt their teaching strategies and lesson content. Simulations can be similarly leveraged for valuable teaching insights. Plus, they have the added benefit of helping students apply their knowledge in real-world scenarios.
7. Personalized Learning
When learning content activities are tailored to students' needs and interests, students are more likely to achieve learning outcomes. This is because the material captures their attention and matches their proficiency level. To personalize learning for students, educators can leverage adaptive learning technology.
These systems track student progress, engagement, and performance. The systems then use this data to help teachers create personalized learning experiences for students. For example, adaptive learning software can analyze test questions that students frequently miss and provide insights on how educators can adjust lesson content to address those learning gaps.
9 Effective Online Teaching Tips
Let's now explore nice online teaching methods, let's explore nine tips on how to successfully teach students in an online environment.
1. Understand The Learning Platform
Familiarizing yourself with the learning platform your institution uses will help you handle technical disruptions efficiently and make learning seamless for students. Spend time learning your institution's chosen platform so you know how to navigate menu options, upload course content, and access communication tools. That way, you can assist students when they have questions about assignments and other information.
2. Establish Clear Course Expectations
Students may not know what to expect from an online course. For example, they may think that simply logging into the Learning Management System counts for attendance. Eliminate confusion by outlining in the syllabus and reiterating in a welcome lecture what the course will cover and how it'll operate. Provide information about course topics, learning outcomes, assignments, assessment methods, attendance, and response times for submissions. Also, let students know what it takes to excel in the course, including how they'll be graded and what rubrics will be used to determine their mastery of course material.
3. Develop A Strong Teaching Presence
Teaching presence is how instructors actively design, organize, and direct their courses to support students in achieving meaningful learning outcomes. According to a study on teaching presence and interaction in online literature classes, teaching presence is highly correlated to learning outcomes and students' sense of satisfaction. Another study published in the Journal of Online Learning and Teaching found that important indicators of instructor presence to students were clarifying course requirements, responding to students' needs, and providing timely feedback.
Educators can build their teaching presence online by adopting these indicators into their teaching style. They can also achieve this by humanizing themselves and engaging with students. For example, they should deliver personalized feedback to students, participate in discussion forums, and host live sessions with their cameras turned on.
4. Add Variety
Variety makes learning dynamic, which keeps students engaged and interested in their learning. One way to add variety is to adapt your teaching methods to different learning styles. For instance, use videos, images, and charts for visual learners as well as music and other sounds for auditory learners. Incorporate reading assignments and writing exercises for students who learn best that way. Then, use movement and hands-on activities for kinesthetic learners. Another option is to make learning interactive. Use quizzes, polls, simulations, educational games, and small group work to encourage student participation.
5. Develop A Sense Of Community
When online students feel a part of a community, they feel a deeper sense of belonging and enjoy their learning more. A University of Toronto research paper on the role of community in online learning also found that students from online course communities with stronger community engagement levels believed they learned more than students from communities with weaker community engagement levels. Foster community among online students by encouraging interaction through class discussions, group projects, and peer reviews. Participate in these activities yourself by offering feedback.
6. Encourage Reflection
Reflection promotes deeper understanding and critical thinking among students. It also gets them actively involved in the learning process as opposed to passively consuming learning content. Asking students for their thoughts on a topic or issue during live sessions is an effective way to foster reflection. You could also have them respond to prompts featured on discussion forums. Also, consider using digital annotation tools so students can comment on assigned reading and respond to their peers directly within the text.
7. Provide And Solicit Feedback
Giving students feedback can help them understand learning content better and improve their course performance. On the flip side, receiving feedback from students helps you improve as an instructor and determine how to enhance the course.
When providing feedback, make sure your suggestions are timely and specific. Don't simply say students' work needs improvement. Instead, identify specific weaknesses and explain how the student might address them. Conversely, when soliciting feedback, request students' thoughts on class content, difficulty, workload, and learning satisfaction. Make changes to the course based on their responses.
8. Regularly Check Learning Resources And Applications
To ensure course content is up to date and that the tools you use as an instructor are functioning properly, check your resources and applications often. Otherwise, you'll experience technical challenges and create confusion among students. Here are a few ideas for what to check when reviewing resources, systems, and other course tools:
- Students' access to quizzes, assignments, and other course content
- Inactive or broken links for articles, videos, or other resources
- Whether course content is placed in the correct module or folder
- Whether you have a reliable internet connection before virtual calls or lectures
9. Be Mindful Of Accessibility
Students have different needs, abilities, and varying levels of access to the internet. So, design your classes to promote inclusivity, equity, and accessibility. Start by surveying students to learn if they require special accommodations or have technical needs. Then, direct them to the proper resources and readjust your class if needed.
Remember that students may also be in different zones. Therefore, when conducting synchronous sessions, record them for students who can't attend. For further accessibility, use open-source materials like electronic textbooks as well as accessible videos, images, and other media so students can use them for class.
Conclusion
Although schools and higher education institutions have long since returned to in-person instruction following the COVID-19 pandemic, online education remains a popular choice for students. So, educators must continue to maintain and improve their online teaching skills.
They can start by exploring online teaching methods used to engage learners and help them achieve learning outcomes. These methods include online whiteboards, flipped classrooms, interactive assessments, personalized learning, and more.
From there, educators can implement effective online teaching tips like establishing clear course expectations, incorporating variety, and remaining mindful of accessibility. By following these guidelines, instructors can reinvigorate the online learning experience and ensure that they're prepared to teach the next generation of learners.
