Here are a few pointers from someone who does it every day
I got a call this morning from a friend who suddenly needs to teach a hands-on class…remotely. How do you do that?
Lots of teachers are asking this question, so I’m going to offer a few simple pointers.
The technology is not too hard!
While you have been happily continuing in the brick and mortar world, online education has come a long way. There is so much easy technology you can access, much of it for free.
Don’t think that you can’t do it. Find someone to help you if you feel overwhelmed. Don’t listen to anyone who says you need to do something complicated. Use the simplest tools that you already have a feel for.
Be creative with technology
How could you use Facebook live streaming? Do you know how to share a Google Drive document? Did you know that anyone can upload videos to Youtube and share them only with a specific audience?
Don’t focus on what you don’t know. Focus on what you do know and how you can adapt it.
Remember that the real world matters
The worst online classes take away everything that is good about the real world. The best ones integrate the real world with the IRL world.
Think about what your students get from you in the classroom, and consider how you can continue to give that online.
So… Are you a teacher who uses your voice a lot to convey information? Make sure to make sound available to your students.
Do you provide your students with fun physical materials? You can still do that. Some schools are putting together packets that students can pick up. Just make sure that your parents know that you are wearing a mask when you create the packets!
Do you need to engage your students in real time? If your students are likely to all have access to streaming, live streaming allows you to share your face and gestures.
Do you give immediate feedback in the classroom? If your classes depend on back and forth communication, look into what sorts of texting programs might work—Messenger, WhatsApp, Hangouts… There are so many! Find out what’s easiest for your families.
Don’t disappear
Your students are used to being with you for a certain amount of time in the week. Even if they are not in the classroom, they should feel that you are just as available to them during this stressful time.
Consider this an opportunity to do some professional development
You may end up never using online educational tools again…but that’s unlikely. Once you develop these skills, you may end up integrating them into your teaching long term.
Teaching online is extremely rewarding in its own way. I don’t think that remote classes should ever replace in-person interaction, but in a time like this, these tools are there for your use. Good luck!
