Over the course of a complete academic year of remote learning, the biggest distance-learning experiment in history involved millions of educators and students. Innovative educational technology tools were used that incorporated video connection and collaborative workspaces, revealing the possibilities of the future classroom. According to The Wiley Education Services report, 52% of students would prefer to enroll in a program offered online if it was not available at their current university. Hence, failing to provide an online option for your courses may result in decreased enrollment. As a result, schools are now more technology-driven than ever before, ushering in the era of hybrid learning.
Hybrid learning, which emphasizes flexibility and technology, is becoming increasingly popular. With the help of modern technology tools, K-12 classes, as well as college and adult learning programs, can now seamlessly transition to remote and hybrid formats.
In 2020, virtual classes were a new experience for many students, and there were concerns about feeling excluded. Additionally, educators who were unfamiliar with technology had to adapt to using it in the classroom, which could be overwhelming for some.
This guide provides valuable insights on important factors to consider, best practices for remote teaching and learning, and proven strategies from experienced online instructors who teach in fully online programs.
Choose The Best Option For The Student
It’s important to keep in mind that simply transitioning to remote or hybrid learning doesn’t necessarily mean using a single tool, like Zoom or Canvas, to replace all in-person teaching functions. Instead, you can choose to use multiple tools and methods to accomplish different aspects of your course, such as live class sessions via Zoom or pre-recorded lectures that students can watch at their convenience.
Virtual science labs, for instance, typically offer a variety of tools, such as posting course materials, creating multimedia content, communicating with students, engaging in collaborative learning, offering interactive learning experiences, and hosting live remote class sessions.
Ultimately, the choice of which tools to use will depend on your individual teaching style, the needs of your students, and the nature of the course material. The key is to experiment with different tools and find the ones that work best for you and your students.
Pay Special Attention To Pedagogy
The shift to alternative technologies for teaching and receiving feedback from students does not have to result in a reduction or limitation of your original teaching plan. In fact, you may discover that some of the strategies you adopt in these new mediums are more effective in achieving your goals and may want to incorporate them into your teaching even after returning to normal conditions.
To determine which activities, experiences, and assessments should be conducted during live video class sessions and which can be completed at alternate times, it’s important to review your course and identify the ultimate goals of each component.
However, when incorporating new instructional mediums into your course, it’s crucial to communicate your expectations clearly to students, who may also be new to the online platforms being used. Additionally, given the unusual circumstances, students may be dealing with situations outside of the virtual classroom that could affect their ability to engage with your course. Therefore, it’s important to be understanding and flexible while ensuring that students receive clear guidelines for participation and assessment.
Understand Your Students’ and Your Comfort Zone
To evaluate your students’ comfort zones with remote learning technologies, you can start by creating a survey or questionnaire that asks about their previous experiences with online learning, their access to technology and reliable internet, and their preferred methods of communication and collaboration. You can also ask for their feedback throughout the course to understand how they are adapting to the new learning environment and whether they have any difficulties or concerns.
Observing their engagement and participation during online class sessions and group activities can also provide insights into their comfort level with remote learning technologies. You can also encourage students to share their thoughts and questions during class discussions and provide opportunities for one-on-one communication to address any concerns they may have. By understanding your students’ comfort levels, you can make adjustments to your teaching approach and provide additional support and resources as needed.
Set Clear Expectations
Even in an online setting, proper classroom management is imperative. In order to ensure that your students understand what is expected of them in the course, it is important to update your syllabus to include your new plans and explain the new modes of teaching and learning. Clearly outline expectations for the term, including how you will communicate with students and how they can communicate with you, the schedule for live class sessions, and how students can demonstrate engagement with their classmates and the course through online tools. Be sure to also inform students about technical support resources that are available to them.
It’s important to remind students that online courses should be approached with the same level of professionalism and respect as on-campus meetings. Encourage students to join class sessions from a suitable, quiet location that allows for full participation, and to refrain from joining while driving or riding in a car. Clearly communicating expectations and guidelines will help ensure the success of both you and your students in the course.
Make Your Remote Science Labs More Hands-On
Using the best science lab kits can definitely help overcome the challenge of providing remote students with the same laboratory experience as in-person students. These kits can provide students with the opportunity to conduct experiments and apply what they have learned in a more interactive and engaging way.
When choosing a hands-on lab kit, it is important to make sure that it is aligned with the course curriculum and that it includes all the necessary equipment and materials. Safety should also be a top priority, so make sure that the kit comes with proper safety instructions and measures.
Another consideration is the cost of the science lab kit, as some can be quite expensive. However, some institutions offer lab kit rental programs or subsidies to help offset the cost for students.
Overall, using hands-on science lab kits can be a great solution for providing remote students with a quality laboratory experience, and can help ensure that they are able to achieve the same learning outcomes as their in-person peers.
Conclusion
It’s understandable for instructors to be concerned about maintaining the quality of their teaching and meeting learning objectives in an online setting. However, it’s important to remember that online teaching does not have to be a limitation but rather an opportunity to explore new ways of engaging students and achieving course goals.
Ultimately, successful online teaching requires flexibility, creativity, and a willingness to adapt to new technologies and teaching methods. By embracing these challenges, instructors can create a rich and engaging learning environment for their students, even in an online setting.
