Overnight, millions of teachers and educators found themselves facing the challenge of shifting education to home, from in-person schooling to e-learning, or what is known as distance learning.
Many have worked hard to meet this challenge, but not everyone has the same financial and human resources. Distance learning usually requires some time for preparation and equipment, such as: preparing educational programs and content, appropriate presentation platforms, planning for this type of education, and conducting some pilot tests to evaluate and assess these programs. It also requires some kind of training, qualification, and professional development for teachers and employees involved in activating such work. However, today we are in a situation where this approach is not possible, and it is almost impossible. Therefore, we have no choice but to do what we can quickly, so that we can support learners immediately, while carrying out a process of evaluation, follow-up, assessment, and development directly and in conjunction with daily events, while quickly making decisions and amending procedures that improve the level of services and facilitate the process. In the following lines, I will try to present some steps that I hope will help you, guide you, and facilitate your task.
- Step 1: Be simple and clear. Plan and prepare your lessons for the new situation. Review your previous plans, develop your plan, and design a new type of lesson and assignment. Check whether it fits with the fact that your students are not physically in front of you and will be reading them on their screens. In addition, they may not all be online at the same time. They may be watching the video presentation alone or reviewing the material sent. Clarity and planning are essential, as students’ situations and needs vary in the virtual environment. Make sure to explain the mechanism and components of the curriculum. Clearly present the educational material you want to present (perhaps on a PowerPoint presentation or other format) before the lesson begins and make it available to the students. This will give them the opportunity to review and re-watch it before the meeting, so they are ready to discuss it with you. Explain to them exactly what is required of them, as well as the parts they have to read and what you want them to pay attention to. An important point: if you have to write something on the board while you are with them in live meetings, be careful not to cover the screen with your hand or body. It is best to have the points you want written in advance and clearly displayed on a screen that everyone can see. And see your cursor moving on it.
- Step 2: Prepare the educational material to suit the chosen platform, practice virtual classroom management, and try to master the technology as much as possible. Remember that abilities vary, and the field is new to the world. Adults haven't dealt with this technology since childhood, like today's generation. Don't be hard on yourself and give in to the idea of lack of knowledge and inability. It is indeed somewhat difficult, but it is possible. Although technical support is not available with you at home, you must rely on yourself. Take things calmly, as distance learning requires knowledge of some technologies and specific technical skills. You need a reliable and secure computer, a strong internet connection, and a review of those technical skills. Ask, learn, and practice the best and easiest methods and systems that meet the requirements of the academic subject you are studying. Don't demand perfection. Focus on the progress you are making in a field that was completely new to you. Get to know the platform and the capabilities of your new classroom. Do your research, trust your final choice, and enjoy everything you do. Be assured that with time and practice, you will succeed, and your classroom will become the best it can be.
- Step 3: Prepare a suitable work environment. Without a suitable environment and a good degree of self-discipline, distance learning can become intermittent and distracting. Set up your own workspace and make it quiet and in a place that helps you focus as much as possible, as if you were in the classroom. This space should be dedicated solely to work, equipped with everything you need, helps you achieve, and encourages productive work behaviors. Keep your work environment organized and free of distractions such as the TV, other family members, or household chores. Natural lighting, a comfortable chair, and a desk can create an atmosphere that contributes to creating the ideal work environment. The most important thing is to review the readiness of tools, connections, internet access, and everything else you need well in advance, and to set some controls. With a little planning with family members and informing them of your schedule and working hours, many embarrassing situations can be avoided, especially when giving live lessons.
- Step 4: Devise ways to stimulate engagement. Virtual classrooms operate differently than traditional classrooms, due to physical distancing and not seeing each other. Boredom and apathy can overwhelm these automated classrooms if they lack personal contributions and interaction. Therefore, initiating and encouraging discussions activates participation and goes a long way in combating this boredom and apathy. It is important to be sure to encourage participation and stimulate individual contributions, just as you would in the classroom, but even more so whenever possible. There are many ways you can encourage engagement, such as discussions, requesting contributions and research, assigning reading materials, monitoring and reinforcing progress in face-to-face meetings, and noticing and encouraging students who are reluctant to interact. When it comes to submitting assignments, you want your students to share their opinions and knowledge daily or weekly, rather than simply handing in assignments (possibly recorded as audio notes). Participating in planned, in-depth discussions allows students to engage with the material in different ways, as it will be presented, seen, and heard by everyone. They will be more interested in it, and this leads your students to gain more. Learn more and benefit from your class, more than just listening to the lesson or doing the assignments you are asked to do.
- Step 5: Reconnect with your students. Regular face-to-face communication and maintaining a consistent online presence are essential in a virtual classroom environment. Set a time for a live, in-person meeting and start the lesson by asking about your students and how they are doing. This helps bring a sense of humanity and warmth to your class, which can often be easily lacking in such classrooms. Make sure your students know the best ways and times to contact you or ask you questions. This will ease their anxiety. Not having you physically present can make some students nervous. Try to mitigate this by answering questions in a timely manner and providing plenty of guidance and feedback.
- Step 6: Diversifying students' motivations is another challenge you face. Your students are far from you, and they are different. Each of them learns and is motivated differently and has their own motivations for learning. However, diversifying motivations can play an effective and important role in the learning process. While some students are self-motivated, simply learning something new is all the motivation they may need. With these students, you only need to describe the information they have acquired and the amount of academic progress they have achieved. As for students who are not like this, you need to think of ways to motivate them to work and make the most of this situation. This may include:
1- Distributing some optional tasks to students.
2- Search and contribute some photos and videos.
3- Giving extra marks to those who discuss or research…or some encouraging stickers.
4- Set a timer that specifies deadlines for submitting work. This may motivate students to compete and race against time, and push unmotivated students forward.
Remember, your goal is to find ways to keep everyone engaged and help students get the most out of themselves despite being apart and unable to be physically present.
- Step 7: The technology or digital generation has better capabilities. Don't be shy to ask for help and feedback from your students. Ask them how we can improve our performance, listen to their suggestions, and ask them to provide you with their feedback. You may find something that can help you move your class forward. With the transition to distance learning, your students may have already gone through online study. Benefit from the experiences of knowledgeable students who have attended previous virtual classes. Their experience may help you see the positives and negatives of your current class. Also, search with your fellow teachers, communicate with them, discuss your experiences, and share the acquired knowledge. You may find valuable advice that will help you develop your skills in distance learning.
Finally, think positively. The new role you are playing today represents a qualitative shift in your field of work. Distance learning is a developmental opportunity in your professional future, giving you a degree of flexibility. You become a practitioner of both direct and indirect education, which is an undeniable benefit. E-learning is the language of the future, and perhaps the subject has accelerated your push to enter this growing market for teachers. Thus, it becomes an exciting opportunity to enhance your knowledge of the subject, your career development, and your educational experience. Distance learning is still relatively new, so there is no one specific way to do it. With some effort in training and preparation, you can find yourself at the forefront of the new educational movement and the world of distance learning.