When the pandemic began, many of us were surprised by how abrupt the change in our lives was; We had been used to going for walks, shopping, going to the movies, and even, what brings me here today, to teaching and learning without limits .
The first reality check we had was related to digital penetration in our country; For example, according to INEI (National Institute of Statistics and Informatics), only 5.9% of citizens in rural areas have access to the internet.
So, how can we solve an issue that causes us so many problems? What can we do to provide quality education in places where teaching alternatives cannot be offered?
The main idea of change starts at the government level but also from us as citizens in terms of duties and rights; We cannot expect the quality of education to improve or to seek to reduce the existing digital divide simply by requiring it; We also have to fulfill our duties, such as paying taxes, to contribute to the development of a more equitable society.
How to be a private teacher. Everything you need to know
The challenge of being a private teacher Congratulations, if you are reading this it is because you have decided to be a private teacher. Or maybe and…
Tips for online classes
Although this is the most difficult point to work on, this does not leave aside the fact that although many others have internet in the capital, the quality provided is not the most optimal either and I have noticed this in general during the development of the online class sessions. that I have dictated.
For my part, I plan to leave some tips for teaching online classes, both for teachers and students:
- Do not use the network unnecessarily; If our student block does not have a good internet signal, let’s avoid using high resolutions on our cameras or deactivate HD transmission, this way the data transfer will be less and the class will be more fluid.
- Download the material before sharing it; Another great alternative is to download the videos, images, or documents in general before class to avoid consuming the same network twice downloading and uploading files. When you view a video from an online platform, it is downloaded momentarily but at the same time, during the broadcast, you are uploading it, which can cause some delay in the transmission or even unexpected cuts.
- Greater interaction between students and teacher; Although, understandably, the class has a rhythm that is very different from the usual in-person one, we can still generate constant interaction using reactions and chat, let’s avoid leaving everything static since otherwise we would be faced with a monologue without interaction.
- Check the microphone and camera before each session, this is one of the problems that I have noticed the most in-class sessions. For my part, as a teacher, I always verify the correct use of the camera and microphone before each session, but as a general recommendation for the students, I would ask them to do the same since they do not know how much time they can save with it and thus speed up the process. learning during class.
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Adapt to the technical possibilities of your students
You are prepared, you have done tests with your colleagues at the center, your connection is going like a shot and you have created interactive content so that your class is really attractive and your students do not get lost at the first opportunity. Hmmm, are we forgetting something? Your audience! As teachers, we cannot ignore the particularities of each student, both in terms of abilities and their family environment and the economic possibilities and access to new technologies. As we have already commented in other articles, it is essential to prevent any boy or girl from being excluded or unable to keep up with the class in virtual mode.
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Creativity to power
“Creativity is thinking more efficiently.” This phrase from the French poet Pierre Reverdy tells us that being creative is not the only way to think, but it is the most intelligent way. This is very useful advice for practically everything, including teleteaching. As we have already said in previous points, we have to communicate with our students differently, create educational resources that capture their attention and motivate them to follow online classes and adapt to the possibilities of all our students without detracting from the quality of teaching… Ultimately, be creative.
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Be practical!
- Just because our classes are live does not mean that we cannot use recordings with explanations and resolution of frequently asked questions. We’re not talking about becoming a YouTuber overnight, but you can record videos explaining a specific aspect, solving a question that is frequently repeated, and even showing the steps of a process through a screen recording. You will do it only once and you can reuse the resource countless times. Plus, your students will thank you for sending them a video instead of an endless email!
- Do you have more tips on become a tutor uk? We can’t wait to hear them and add them to the list.
- Do tests before “going on stage”
It’s no secret that live music and computers can play tricks on us, especially since we are not experts. If we add nerves and little experience to this, it will be normal if we do not achieve perfection. Don’t put pressure on yourself, lower your expectations about teaching an online class! 🙂 For this reason, in this decalogue of good practices for teleteaching we recommend that you do tests before jumping into the pool with your students. You can organize a “dress rehearsal” with several classmates from the same educational center, with teachers from other centers, or take the test with family and friends.
Don’t limit yourself to the word, prioritize the image
If in face-to-face teaching we try to break with the teaching monologue, here too, and even to a greater extent. We cannot limit ourselves to talking and talking, let us remember that in teleteaching the distraction factors increase and our ability to control decreases. It’s important to add visual elements to your class, such as creating a background, varying the images that appear on the screen at any time, screen sharing to show interactive presentations, or performing searches and live exercises. You can give the spotlight to your students by practicing reading aloud or other activities. As Torrey Trust, from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, reminds us, there are multiple means of representation and we can use them all to break the monotony: images, infographics, photographs, even memes, audio elements such as podcasts, recordings, animated videos, documentaries, interactive multimedia elements, etc. You can consult the Trust Google Slide here. It is in English but it is worth it, as it includes innovative ideas, links to visual technology platforms, and other online teaching tips that you may find useful.