What Makes For a Successful Remote Learning Experience? 5 Tips For Teaching Online
Discover how to optimize your remote offerings.
Remote learning has exploded in the COVID-19 era. Those new to the process may sometimes understate the work that goes into developing an online course.
“It is much more than transcribing written courses into PowerPoints,” says Gloria Feldt, who has led dozens of remote learning classes as the co-founder and president of Take The Lead, a non-profit dedicated to gender equality, and as a long-time professor at Arizona State University. “To be worthwhile, it has to be much more nuanced, especially if the experience is to be successful for the student.”
“@Takeleadwomen ‘s co-founder and president @GloriaFeldt advises how to optimize your remote offerings. #RemoteLearning”
Relationship-building is key, according to Feldt, who goes on to note, “Without that, and other key elements, many online classes sputter out, and worse, students lose out on gaining the full benefit of online learning.” Feldt, whose own classes — such as her Online Leadership Certificate course given through Take The Lead — enjoy close to 90% completion rates, offers these tips to instructors:
“According to @GloriaFeldt, co-founder and President of @Takeleadwomen, relationship-building in #OnlineLearning is key. ”
Weekly Zoom chats: Schedule a live Zoom Q&A chat every week where students can ask questions and see each other (and you, of course). Post the chat so everyone can see this human interaction.
“Schedule a live #Zoom Q&A chat every week where students can ask questions and see each other (and you, of course). #RemoteLearning #Advice ”
Teach brief lessons: Attention spans are shorter than ever — especially online — so present material in short bites of five minutes or less.
“Teach brief lessons: Attention spans are shorter than ever — especially online — so present material in short bites of five minutes or less. #RemoteLearning”
Assign homework: When you deliver content, be sure to include an exercise for each segment. This further engages the students and enhances learning absorption.
“#Advice for #RemoteLearning instructors: Assign homework. When you deliver content, be sure to include an exercise for each segment. ”
Create group projects: Use digital tools to set up projects for small groups. You can have them self-organize and assign a point person to report back to you, which creates built-in accountability. This helps ensure that students stay involved and up to speed.
“Advice for instructors: Create group projects. Use digital tools to set up projects for small groups. #VirtualLearning #OnlineClasses ”
Incentivize: Provide incentives such as a certificate or badge to note course completion. “Students can post the badges on their social media and websites or can print out and hang the certificate in their office,” says Feldt. “Regardless of whether it is a badge or certificate, the accreditation will enhance their professional credentials. With reports saying that the U.S. unemployment rate may go as high as 30% post virus, many will need every tool as they search for work or to protect their employment status.”
“Provide incentives such as a certificate or badge to note course completion. “Students can post the badges on their social media and websites,” says @GloriaFeldt. #RemoteLearning”
By following these simple steps, you can best achieve your ultimate goal: successfully educating your students. “And that is what it is all about,” says Feldt.
“By following these simple steps, you can best achieve your ultimate goal: successfully educating your students. “And that is what it is all about,” says @GloriaFeldt. #OnlineLearning”
Diane Karsch is a freelance writer, specializing in internal and external communications for Fortune 500s, nonprofits and professional services firms. She works with several communications/public relations agencies, including The Boreland Group Inc.