No one could have anticipated going online the last two months of this semester. It can
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be rather lonely, lots of work, and we miss seeing each other and our kids. Below are five tips that have been circling in regards to best practices for online learning. Take a moment to reflect on your classes over the past month: What has been going well and what would you like to change as we move into Week 5 and beyond?
- Reduce barriers to learning by limiting the number of tools you introduce to your students. Stick with a couple of reliable tools you know your students are able to use. When possible, use Canvas.
- Less done well. Identify essential elements in your course and focus on going deeper instead of covering more content. Make sure you are identifying success criteria with rubrics to help students know what is expected of them in the learning process.
- Plan chunks of learning, not daily activities. When possible, give students essential coursework a week at a time and consider only having 1-2 due dates per week.
- Help students succeed by creating clear and concise instructions. If you haven’t dove into video yet, consider creating video instructions via QuickTime or Canvas Studio. Share resources and tips on what to do when kids get stuck during the learning process.
- Provide frequent feedback. Feedback can be individual or whole class, but is essential for moving forward. Consider using self-checks for those learning chunks that are not being formally assessed. Find ways to incorporate peer reviews to increase the feedback given to students by someone other than yourself. Don’t forget reflection is a great way to solidify learning.
What will you start, stop, or continue with instruction as you move into the rest of your semester? Add your comments below.
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