Distance Learning Tips and Tools
COVID-19 and Distance Learning
"Our reaction to a situation literally has power to change the situation itself."
- Unknown
I have been an online teacher for seven years. Here is what I have learned:
I just wanted to share a few tools that might help as you move to "online learning" and see if I can help you in any way. I have some favorites I have gathered from my experience online.
Tools for Distance Learning:
Loom - This is my favorite tool for making quick instructional videos. It is very user friendly for teachers and students and automatically generates a URL that you can share with students. You can organizer URLs into folders for repeated/future use.
Remind - This is a great tool for keeping students in the loop! My favorite feature is that you can insert a link to a Google Doc to share on Remind which is a great time saver. Since there is a limit on the number of characters in a message sent in Remind, this is a great workaround to share announcements and information efficiently, especially if you don't have an LMS. Here are some best practices for using Remind.
Google Voice - Create a phone number where you can be reached which is NOT your personal number. Teachers and students can also text using a Google Voice number. This is usable on your desktop computer... full keyboard!!! WIN!
Tips for Distance Learning:
Focus on asynchronous experiences, not synchronous. This means students can work and view your videos at a time that works for them, not at a set time! HIGHLY recommended!
Be realistic. Assignments typically take longer to complete at home and due to the circumstances, less is more.
Consider non-screen work, meaning that students are completing work that doesn't require a screen. Reading a book, choice boards, projects, learning from working on assignments with family members, are all a good place to start.
Let students see your face. Creating videos of you instructing them or just checking in creates connection.
Be consistent with your communication. If students know they will hear from you at a specific time, it provides a sense of routine.
Consider having 'office hours" where students know they can join you online for help. Responding to every email the minute it comes is a sure way to burn yourself out. Pausing your inbox during a time out for lunch and overnight will save your sanity!
Be clear with the learning objectives you have and be intentional with the desired outcomes. Be concise on with instructions on assignments and the amount of time students should spend on each task. Clear and brief instructions are essential!!
Encourage creativity!!! Having students run with a prompt, project, etc. will allow them to fill the time they have available. Students are used to finding the "right answer" but our current circumstances support them being able to use their individual time, resources, and even talents to help them differentiate their own learning.
Create a FAQ page where students can get answers quickly. This could be posted on a website or in your LMS. In a matter of day after "going online" you will be able to identify the questions you need to include because you will get the same ones over and over. Having a FAQ page GREATLY reduces the number of questions you will get. You can either copy and paste the answer or refer them to a link to the FAQ. You can also include it in your email signature.
