New to Teaching Online? Here’s a Quick Guide to Get You Started
Distance learning acquired a more respected status as the world screeched to a halt in the face of the infamous pandemic. Eventually, as businesses limped to a steady and cautious recovery, education realised what was needed for it to continue on its course – a great online teacher. Understanding this, teachers across the globe are trying to use their expertise in curating an immersive learning experience for their students on the other side of the screen. In this endeavour, a digital whiteboard has been a smart classroom solution that does the heavy-lifting in resolving the problem of engagement. An interactive whiteboard has the potential to pull out a dull online class from the depth of boredom and fill it with exciting elements that would help children and teachers experience a great learning session.
For teachers who are new to this digital transformation, we have put together a small guide to help you in your online journey.
- Don’t Fear Technology
We don’t want to begin on a negative note, however, when the stakes are high, it is more important to know what to not do than what to do. Particularly in India, we have an aversion to technology in the education sector however, technology is not meant to instil fear but to make things easier. While online classes are currently unavoidable, teachers can use this opportunity to learn more about technology.
Incorporating a smart board with an interactive panel in your online classes can help you increase engagement with your students. The digital board for teaching by Senses Electronics comes with a host of features with compelling visual aids that will help you explain complex concepts with ease. Investing in a digital whiteboard with an interactive panel can enrich your online teaching journey.
Moreover, the smart board price in India is reasonable and your interactive whiteboard does a lot more than what you pay for it. With an exponential rise in online teaching, your digital board price will pay for itself in days to come.
- Create Interactive Course Content
When conducting classes, teachers need to be sensitive to the medium. In an in-person class, the rules for engagement are different from what they are online. Aside from investing in a smart board with an interactive panel, online teachers should make room for quizzes, active discussions, and make use of features such as the live chat to keep the session communicative. This will help students participate in the class and make discussions livelier. It will also give an idea about whether or not the students are paying attention to the class.
Teachers will also have to change the way they used to give homework. You can ask students to read online journals, give links for YouTube videos that will get them interested in learning about the topic, etc.
- Set up an Adequate Work Environment
At this point, everyone knows that working remotely comes with its set of challenges, and creating a good work environment is one of them. At home, there can be several distractions that can keep you from delivering a great class. For a productive work-from-home environment, you can do the following:-
- Keep a designated work area that is away from
distractions
- Ensure that the room you are working in is properly ventilated and well lit
- Make space for the right video equipment and place the camera in a way that both you and your interactive board is clearly visible
- Maintain a good posture as long hours can be taxing
- Plan the Classes
As the mode of teaching is different, you need to plan your classes at least a week or two in advance. Consider the schedules and the time zones of your students and plan the course in a manner that allows you to have interactive activities for active participation. A digital whiteboard is a smart classroom solution that can help you plan and schedule your classes. The auto-email feature of an interactive whiteboard can send class reminders to students so they don’t miss important sessions. The needs for a virtual class are different from those of a physical classroom. Teachers will have to ensure that the details of the class are shared with the students before they come for the class.
- Ask for Feedback
No one knows it better than a teacher that there is always room for improvement. Students can provide you with valuable feedback as they have experienced several online classes. You can use an interactive board for sharing a questionnaire with your students that asks them about their experience in class and take their suggestions to make it better. As a smart board comes with several features, you can also ask your students what features they like best and what they would like to see more of in the coming classes.
In conclusion, investing in a digital board for teaching is the first step to conducting an engaging online class because several students have embraced technology for learning. It will help teachers speak the language of their students for an immersive and active session.
