Digital or online learning has evolved gradually since it was introduced at the dawn of the 21st century.
Now more than ever, it has become a practicable way of classroom learning and one that’s essential because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Nevertheless, this progress has brought challenges to both teachers and students.
You’ve probably been trying to find ways of helping your students adjust and study in this different setting. You might have experienced some unpleasant experiences, which made you think, “how can I successfully manage a virtual classroom to ensure optimum outcomes?”
Different strategies have proven effective. Here are some:
Partner with parents
Although most parents didn’t grow in the digital classroom environment and may have a hard time understanding its dynamics, they can offer some help. You can start by sharing your classroom expectations with them. Let them know your do’s and don’ts.
For example, the type of device suitable for their child, how they should arrange the study area, and where and how they can locate essential resources, such as books.
You can also share your classroom activities with them. Let them participate in some of your engaging lessons, such as physical education or creative arts.
You can also track their children’s progress with them. Doing so will help boost student participation.
Have a good room arrangement
The rooms or spaces in a digital classroom environment can be fixed or movable, anonymous or personalized, closed or open, mute or responsive. The overriding theme is potential.
Nevertheless, you can fail to realize it when you lack an alignment between your learning goals and the technology used to achieve these goals.
For example, suppose your learning objective is to solve a particular problem through research and idea-sharing. In that case, your digital space should be personalized, static (since students will be moving back and forth as they conduct their research), responsive and open.
Therefore, you need to ensure that your learning spaces align well with your teaching objectives. This means that if the lesson changes midway, you can shift to another suitable arrangement.
Look out for your classroom workflow
In a traditional classroom setting, workflow is relatively predictable. You give your student an assignment, complete it, and return their work to you. On the other hand, workflow in a digital classroom is mostly unpredictable and uncontainable.
Sometimes, it can flow from you to your students, then to their mentors for criticism, to a minor team for a more granular response, to you for evaluation, and after that to a social media platform or local venue for public viewing.
These loops can sometimes be confusing if your students are used to the traditional setting. Ensure that they understand them and why they need to stick to the loop. You can also come up with a fixed structure for particular lessons and share it with your students.
Use the latest technology
One of the defining features of online learning is that it never stops changing. Technology is the most visible and crucial aspect of digital learning; therefore, ensure that you’re up to date with some current trends.
For example, you can purchase classroom management software to help you create a classroom environment intended to engage your student in the learning process better.
This software can limit your student’s access to distracting websites and electronic programs on electronic devices. Some reputable vendors provide engaging designs and activities to motivate and stimulate your students at home and in class.
other related articles of interest:
Avoiding Digital Overload: Why You Should Take Breaks From Your Screen
Four Wonderful Tech Trends To Watch For In The Education Industry
Use some recommended teaching method
One of the highly recommended teaching methods is the Reciprocal Teaching method, developed by Ann Brown and Annemarie Palincsar. It involves questioning, predicting, clarifying, and summarizing in a participative dialogue based on text. It aims to provide students with some level of responsibility for their studies and encourages them to assess their learning material critically.
Using this method will allow your students to take control of their learning. They can hold virtual discussion groups and meetings; through platforms such as Zoom among themselves. They can also discuss their lessons on the phone. All these will facilitate a deeper understanding of their material.
In a nutshell, rather than doing most of the work, assign some to your students to motivate them. Managing a class in the current digital age is challenging, but it shouldn’t be for you. Implement all or some of these strategies for optimum outcomes.
Image Credit: how to manae a classroom in the digital age by twenty20.com
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