Let’s be honest here. Interaction between the teacher and the students plays a significant role in building an effective learning experience — more so when it is built through face-to-face and within classroom interactions. Teachers then can easily grasp the condition and the environment the students are learning in. But with COVID-19 around, teachers are now given the challenge to deliver the same quality of face-to-face learning experience to their students through digital platforms.
Some would think it’s just the students who are having a hard time coping with their studies during this pandemic. But have you ever tapped a teacher and asked them how they responded and dealt with the situation?
You’d be surprised with their answers!
Here are some teachers that spoke of their sentiments:
- “Magtuon pd ko ug unsaon nako pagtudlo sa ilaha nga dili boring ug dili mawala ilahang interest. Magpagames ko in between discussions, kana example na.” — MS. PENELOPE, SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER
Translation: “I [take the time] to study how I would teach my students so [the discussion] won’t be boring and they won’t lose interest. I facilitate games in between discussions, that’s an example.” - “Ug makahuman ko ug tudlo ug lesson, magconduct dayun ko ug feedback with my students. Para pud ug makahibaw ko ug as a teacher, asa pa dapit ang iimprove.” — MR. REYNES, JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL ECONOMICS TEACHER
Translation: “If I finish teaching a lesson, I conduct feedback with my students. So, I’d know where I should improve as a teacher.” - “Challenging siya oy. Usahay, I set aside I am a teacher and ask my students for help basta maglibog nako ug unsaon nako paggamit anang mga Zoom ug Google Meet. Magkatawa nalang gyud ko.” — MRS. DINO, JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL AP TEACHER
Translation: “It’s really challenging. Sometimes, I set aside I am a teacher and ask my students for help when I get confused on how to use Zoom or Google Meet. It makes me laugh [sometimes].”
As much as students are doing their best to learn through their online classes amidst a pandemic, teachers are also taking the extra mile to make sure they carry through an effective learning experience.
Sir, Ma’am, take a step forward if you have…
- Taken extra hours to personally coach your students’ parents on how to guide them through their modules and courses
- Delivered the modules to your student’s home to make sure they are not left behind
- Watched online tutorials during your free time on how to make use of different technologies for online learning
- Taken the time to reevaluate your teaching practices, adjusted and realigned them to fit the new learning system
So how many steps did you take? Quite a few, huh?
Regardless of how many steps you’ve taken, you are to be celebrated as you are the backbone of the government’s new learning game plan — the front liners in the education sector!
But have you ever thought about how YOU can take that EXTRA MILE to the NEXT LEVEL? Yes, you’re right. It’s not easy, especially during this trying time. However, it can start with knowing what you need, as an educator, to teach effectively.
To have a successful online teaching experience, you should be able to identify your needs and you could start with the following [1]:
Course Transformation
As an educator, it is your responsibility to make sure that the lectures in online classes are as effective as when taught in a classroom setting.
You’d ask yourself, “Where do I start? Which course should be modified first? How do I modify them effectively?”
It could be quite challenging for some, but you can start with reevaluating your course design — (1) identify what must be taught and its relevance, (2) plan how to encourage interactions during class, and (3) creating significant assessments and tasks.
Teaching Style
There is nothing wrong with admitting that there is room for improvement in your teaching style. One way to move forward is to acknowledge and to act.
To act could simply start with talking to your students and asking for their feedback. You can either (1) conduct surveys, (2) send feedback forms or (3) directly ask the class how you did during the lecture.
Through this as well, you are establishing an environment where your students’ thoughts are as important as yours. This results in building a better relationship and strengthens the trust.
Time
Investing time in yourself as an educator is important in making sure you deliver a quality learning experience. How does this even work? Good question!
Investing time in yourself as an educator could simply start with your efforts in looking for different possible options to deliver quality learning experience. Investment could start with you (1) watching a 10-minute YouTube tutorial on how to facilitate online class in Zoom or Google Meet, or (2) making easy-to-study notes for your students.
It’s not only the big things — even your tiniest efforts are investments!
Learning Environment
To establish a learning environment where no one is left behind is already a challenge itself. As an educator, you must consider a lot of factors that could affect the effectiveness of a learning environment.
There could be a lot of considerations that you need to take but one thing’s for sure is to establish a positive and supportive learning culture. Each student must feel that they are connected and able to contribute to the overall learning environment.
How do you establish this culture? It can start with an environment where engagement between students and you as an educator is empowered — a learning space where each person has a voice.
Technical Support
It is no secret that some teachers are having difficulties in dealing with new technologies and digital platforms. Whereas most institutions have their own team to provide technical support to their teaching force, there are some that only rely on their own efforts to overcome difficulties. Therefore, it is important that teachers have access to different options of learning tools they can use to deliver quality learning experience.
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It’s not just the students’ needs that should be taken into consideration. Teachers also have needs that should be addressed to have moved the new learning system towards success.
That’s quite a list of needs, right? There are so many more you should consider but you can start with them and think of how, as an educator, you can take the extra mile to the next level. Or you can take the time and think about…
What online learning tools are available that will help you take that extra mile to the next level?