Are you a teacher wondering how to teach online? Or are you someone who wants to be an online teacher? This article will help you understand more about online teaching and the nuances of it. The last year has witnessed a massive rise in the number of people taking to online platforms for help. Online teaching and virtual classrooms have thus become an integral part of our lives. It has helped both teachers and students in more ways than imaginable. The advantages of online teaching and online education are many. It ranges from cost-effectiveness to affordability to convenience to accessibility and efficiency.
Without further ado, let’s take a closer look at how to teach online.
1.Identify a proper platform to reach your students
There are a lot of options available in the market. The point is to understand what you need and choose the appropriate platform. Taking attendance manually while conducting online classes is a hassle. Similarly, other manual work during online classes can cause confusion and eat up a lot of time. That’s why you need a one-stop solution for online teaching. For instance, Teachmint is an online teaching platform with a host of features like live class recording, low-internet mode, online whiteboard, fee management system, automated attendance, and more. It also allows the teachers to create their own websites and helps teachers grow their business multifold. The icing on the cake is that it is a free app. But if you teach immersive exercises like online golf lessons, you may need to invest in software applications that would help you convey the instructions efficiently. Ensure to choose an app that would help you be focused on teaching.
2. Set up a decent network connection
Once you have identified a good platform to teach online, set up a decent internet connection. It is also important to have a good online classroom set up. With telecom industries on the rise, the internet is not a dream anymore. Figure out which works for you the best and install a decent connection so that you can remove any “poor network” issues in the future. As for the online classroom setup, all you need is to make sure that your lighting is good and that you are sitting away from any noise distractions. You need not worry if you don’t have fancy equipment like tripods or whiteboards. Just make the most of what you have.
3.Plan your lessons
Lesson planning will help you stay calm and confident during online classes. As the saying goes, failing to plan is planning to fail! It is of paramount importance to create a road map or guide of a sort that would act like little cue cards for yourself. It will help to bring in a rhythm to your online classes. Since online classes and virtual classrooms are different from traditional classes, it is necessary to have a routine in place and it is pivotal to share this with your students.
4.Create a schedule
Creating a timetable and sticking to it is extremely important. This is a no-brainer. You might have numerous batches of classes and you have to schedule them accordingly. You should be able to have a break and convey concepts efficiently. The classes should not collide with other classes that your students may have. If you are part of an institution, you have to talk to other teachers and figure this out. If you are an independent teacher, you should talk to your students and fix a suitable schedule that works for all. Fixing the timetable is just a matter of few clicks if you are using Teachmint.
5.Communicate with your students
There is a misunderstanding that communication is not effective in online classes. This is not true. It is easier than ever to communicate with your students when you teach online. There are options such as live chat, announcements, and likewise, that would help you stay connected with your students. Make use of these and establish a good rapport with your students. Explain your expectations.
6.Teach!
Now all that’s left to do is teach. Teaching online is different than the normal style of teaching but also the same. You just have to understand the process and act accordingly. It goes without saying that teaching and learning go hand in hand. So ensure that you learn and grow!
Teaching is not an easy task. It takes dedication, commitment, and passion. Teaching online, however, can be made easy if you choose the right app and the right tools.
