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Keeping students excited about learning can be difficult in a traditional classroom setting, let alone when you’re delivering instruction virtually. Engaging pupils who are miles away necessitates a new set of teaching strategies — ones that involve video conferencing, learning management systems and other digital education software. There is no limit to the ways you could use technology in the classroom to create an enriched learning environment. Here are four digital ways you can stay connected to pupils throughout the school year.
Digital learners already spend so much of their time on social media, so integrating it into your classroom is a no-brainer. By utilizing various social media platforms as a learning tool, you’ll be able to connect students to the curriculum, resources and one another. Consider creating open or closed groups for your classes to share course content, tests, assignments, ideas, pictures, links, videos and more.
It’s normal to feel disconnected in an online teaching environment every now and then, so take the opportunity to put a face and voice to students’ names. Hold digital office hours a few times a week by making yourself available to students via video conferencing or chat sessions. With your laptop and Wi-Fi, you give learners the option to access support and guidance without having to be there in-person. Digital office hours are particularly beneficial for pupils with scheduling conflicts. This effective form of communication also lets you build teacher/student rapport.
Extend learning beyond the page by implementing digital field trips into your lesson plans. Through various apps and websites, learners get to virtually explore parks, museums, zoos, world wonders, and even national and international landmarks from the comfort of home. This also is a great way to reinforce textbook and lecture content. A virtual field trip could involve connecting with a leader in a certain field of study or attending an artistic performance. Moreover, most virtual field trips are free and there is no need to schedule a school bus or wait on waivers from parents.
Looking for a way to ignite student engagement and participation during lessons? Try incorporating interactive and dynamic slides into your presentations. By utilizing online platforms, teachers can easily create interactive slideshows using various multimedia content with images, videos, polls, quizzes, and other activities that are stimulating and relevant to the lesson.
Finding creative ways to use technology in the classroom may make your life easier as a teacher and boost student excitement levels and engagement with lessons. For more ways on how you can stay connected with digital learners, see the accompanying infographic.
