![]() ![]() To simulate interactive learning structures, consider using an online resource like Flipgrid.For younger students, a great idea is to have them teach their family or babysitter/nanny an activity from class, such a Bug in a Rug or Baby Shark. Keep kiddos moving! Link students to daily energizers and brain breaks with GoNoodle.You might even consider adding your student’s individual names in your messages (a few each day) for a personal connection (for example, “Rosemary, I’m so glad you enjoyed yesterday’s reading!” or “Ben, I think you’ll enjoy showing your parents Bug in a Rug.”). You might email this to parents or post it to a shared school or classroom chat space. This direct communication from their teacher will help students stay connected to you and their classroom. Consider beginning each “digital day” with a Morning Message or Responsive Advisory Meeting Announcement.Asking questions will help guide learning as well: Where is your learning space? How much time do you need to complete each task? Set up your digital classroom rules or at-home learning rules: send students home with the rules for online or at-home learning and communication with you and with each other.Communicate to parents the supplies their children will need for at-home learning.Ready to learn more? Click on the graphic below to check out our Virtual Classroom Facilitation Mastery Series certificate course and discover how you can earn your virtual classroom facilitator badge.MaCategories: Classroom Organization / Engaging AcademicsĪs you make the transition to online teaching, here are some tips, activity ideas, and resources to support your virtual classroom: Want more information? Download our whitepaper, 101 Tips to Motivate the Virtual Learner, by clicking on the graphic below. Implementing these simple in-the-moment facilitation techniques will go a long way towards personalizing the virtual classroom experience. Minimize the tech-talk and keep on track. This can be very distracting, and will turn off participants who were already not inclined to enjoy the experience. It’s also easy to get caught in the trap of complaining about virtual classroom problems. It is very easy to talk about polls, breakout rooms, firewalls, etc. Focus on the content, not the technology.Simply knowing that the individuals in the session are important can make the experience seem more valuable. ![]() That is consistent with other groups, and is interesting because….”). Make a point of strongly connecting the feedback and contributions to the content (“75% of you responded in the affirmative. This can make participants feel as if the interaction isn’t relevant. So often, facilitators run a poll and say “Thank you," but don’t incorporate the results of the poll (or whiteboard activity or chat activity) into the conversation. Use the information provided by the participants.The corollary to this technique is if you have been speaking for more than 5 minutes, you are talking too much. Whether it is speaking, reading, interacting with the technology, or working in breakout groups, asking for interaction this consistently makes participants understand that their presence makes a difference. Have the participants do something every 3-5 minutes.When you do get feedback, acknowledge it just as if it were stated aloud. Leave these options open and encourage their use. Some participants will prefer to chat or use whiteboard tools to communicate. Keep all avenues of communication open.Here are some quick facilitation tips that you can apply in the moment to recapture that emotional commitment to the program: But at the course level, there are some easy things you can do when you are facilitating that can help with engagement. There are many ways to engage participants in a virtual classroom like Adobe Connect or Webex.Īt the highest level you want to consider learner motivation, manager support, instructional design, technology, or the skill of the facilitator. And you feel limited because you cannot look around to identify reinforcing eye contact or body language. Are participants paying attention? Are they even awake? In a previous post about engagement, interaction, and collaboration, I mentioned: "Engagement is defined by Merriam-Webster as emotional involvement or commitment." Even the most motivated participant can "tune out" if they don’t feel engaged. You ask for questions or feedback, and get nothing. If you have taught online, you know this feeling. ![]()
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