How To Teach Students Online

I have noticed a lot of discussion in education circles recently concerning teaching students online. Concerns over COVID-19 have prompted some schools to close and educators are wondering how to teach their middle & high school students online. I’ve seen lists of websites and various technologies that can be used, but through it all something has been missing.

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You see, teaching students online is not the same as teaching them in a brick and mortar school. The learning dynamic and the way communication happens is completely different. Teaching online is not simply using Google Classroom to post a worksheet and have students complete it. Throwing various technologies at a problem is not an effective solution. It takes much more thought, planning, and support.

Learning how to effectively teach students online is a skill that comes with years of practice. So, what if you suddenly find yourself in a situation where your school is closed for an extended period of time and you are required to provide online instruction for your students? Do you just toss in the towel because you don’t have the experience or your district has not provided any training? Of course not! Let me share some of the lessons I’ve learned in the past 10 years of teaching online.

Online Students Need Connection

Typically, when we think of teaching or learning online, we think of a traditional distance learning model where students work on modules provided for them. They complete tasks individually in the isolation of their own home. Once the module is finished it is sent back to the teacher for grading. Many years ago, this is what online education looked like, and in some cases still does.

There is no one perfect way to teach students online. My classes employ a combination of synchronous and asynchronous methodology. Synchronous learning requires students and teachers to be online at the same time in order to work together in a particular class. Those tasks could run the range of lectures, discussions, presentations, projects, group work, etc.

Synchronous Learning

I meet with my students online for an hour each day using Zoom, one of the leading programs in video communications. Over the years, our school has relied on different technologies for our online classes but Zoom has been, by far, the one to provide us with the best overall experience. Generally, I like to try and integrate as many Google tools into my teaching as possible. One option Google provides for online conferencing is Google Meet. However, I have found that Zoom provides a more reliable service and a smooth teaching/learning experience. My experience with Zoom has included the following:

When my students and I log in to Zoom, we get to use our webcams and microphones to see and talk with each other. With younger students (middle school), this certainly has the potential to be a classroom management nightmare. Can you imagine having 15-20 students all trying to talk at the same time? Thankfully, the host of a Zoom meeting has ultimate control over a variety of settings and that includes whose microphone is on, whose video is on, who is able to remain in the online session, etc. In my classes, I have the nickname The All-Powerful Ms. R. because I don’t hesitate to remind my students that I have full control over their participation in class. 🙂

Small-Group Time

Another aspect of Zoom that I really appreciate is the ability to create breakout sessions within our online class. This allows me to separate students into smaller groups when doing group work or projects. These smaller groups also allow students to feel a little more comfortable expressing themselves. I have found that I get more students participating and talking when they are in a smaller group.

In light of all that is currently going on with the coronavirus, Zoom is lifting the 40-minute time limit on free basic accounts for schools that are being affected by closures. You can find next-step details HERE.

Asynchronous Learning

Asynchronous learning allows for students to work their way through an online course on their own schedule. Outside of our online sessions, students use Google Classroom and various G Suite tools like Slides, Docs, and Forms to review skills and learn new ones. I provide a wide range of resources for my students including video instruction, textbook references, and websites to facilitate their learning of various skills. About once a week, students will complete a checkpoint on a Google Form to assess their mastery of those skills. For a more in-depth look at how my classes are structured, my blog post entitled The Journey To Independent Learning outlines what my classes typically look like.

Google Classroom

Google Classroom and G Suite tools have been a wonderful addition to my class. It allows for students to ask questions when they arise, assist classmates with questions, carry on discussions, and collaborate on tasks. This is all able to be done at whatever time works best for the student.

Additionally, students are able to work at a speed that best suits their needs. For each subject area I teach, I post the whole term of work. For example, at the beginning of term one, I will provide students access to all the resources, assignments, and final tasks that will be tackled during that term. The classwork page on Google Classroom allows me to organize it sequentially, divided by topics, so students can easily identify the order they should work on each task.

For those interested in learning more about how to teach students online using tools like Zoom, Google Classroom, and G Suite tools, you can sign up for reminders of upcoming free webinars that I hold – usually about once a month – in the box below. I also have a list of previous on-demand webinars or tutorial videos on my YouTube page. Additionally, I do offer private and group coaching, which you can read more about on the Work With Me page.

Manage Expectations When Teaching Online

Alright, so let me put this out there right away – online schooling IS NOT for everyone, and it’s important we recognize this fact. You will find that some of your students thrive in the online setting and others will struggle. There is no concrete way to predict a student’s response either. I have had students join my online classes in previous years who were very studious and had all the traits that would lead you to believe they would be successful. Unfortunately, they found it to be a struggle and transferred back to a brick and mortar school. On the other hand, I’ve had students join my online classes that have struggled academically in the past but just thrived online. Additionally, in the case of mandated online learning, you might find that a student’s home situation is not conducive to online learning.

Regardless of the situation, when first transitioning to online learning there will be a significant period of adjustment. This is not only for the students but for the teacher as well. I actually find that new online students are able to adjust more quickly than a new online teacher in many cases. Students have this uncanny ability to pick up new processes and technologies in a short amount of time. This is probably in part to the fact that they are digital natives. 🙂 Give yourself and your students a lot of grace during this transition time. Not everything will work perfectly. . . and that’s ok.

Schedules

I find that the greatest challenge in switching from a brick and mortar school setting to online school is scheduling. A large majority of students who are new to online schooling struggle to manage their time effectively. They are used to having their day planned out for them. One of the tools that I encourage all my students to use is Google Calendar. The great thing about Google Calendar is that it integrates seamlessly with other Google tools like Google Classroom. If you use Google Classroom to organize students’ assignments, then those tasks which you assign a due date to will show up in their Google Calendar. They can then easily see what work they have for the day and then schedule any other tasks that need to be completed.

For the students that I teach online, I have not only created subject-area Google Classroom’s for them but I also have one entitled Homeroom. That is the place where I can post general announcements, provide permission forms, or even post fun challenges and activities. I will also use the Calendar for this Homeroom page to make sure they have the schedule for their online sessions and I also include any Zoom links they might need in the event description.

Depending on the age of the students you teach, they may need assistance in managing their schedules. As I mentioned earlier, not all of your students will have access to a home environment where they will receive the support they need. I have found that most of the middle school and high school students I have taught online are not confident in their abilities to schedule their time wisely. Being intentional about teaching these processes at the beginning of the online experience is essential.

Make It Fun

Students, on the best of days, have short attention spans. You will find that it is amplified much more by teaching them online. I have found that the best strategy to maintain their attention during online sessions is to be goofy and have fun, keep them on their toes, and mix things up. Try not to plan for an hour-long activity. Instead, plan for a number of shorter activities. For example, in my online sessions I generally follow a format like this:

Zoom Session Example Agenda

• Welcome (~5 mins): informal chat time with students where they get the chance to share about their day etc. I will sometimes share silly stories from my day with them too. They often get a real kick out of that.
• Prayer Requests (~5 mins): I teach at a Christian school and we like to begin our class time highlighting those things we are thankful for and those we are concerned for. The students either share on a collaborative board, verbally, or in the chatbox.
• Agenda (~5 mins): I share with the students what the focus will be for that online session.
• Review (~10-15 mins): This will sometimes take the form of a discussion, a game, or using the polling function in Zoom.
• Activity (~20 mins): This can vary depending on the subject we’re focusing on for the day. Sometimes students will work on a group project, a whole class activity, or an individual task.
• Q&A (~5-10 mins)

Give Yourself Grace

Finally, above all else, do not expect to be perfect and have everything under your belt right away. There will be hiccups, there will be unexpected challenges, and there will be some days when none of your technology will want to work for you. Believe me, I’ve been there. Regardless of any challenges you might face, your students will still learn and each new day will be a brand new opportunity.

When I look back on my very first year of teaching online, I cringe. But I am also incredibly grateful for the mistakes I made and the challenges I faced because it made me into the teacher I am today.

Parents Are Your Greatest Ally

If I could identify just one thing that would make or break a student’s chances of success in an online learning environment, it would be family support. When you teach students online you do not have the same access to monitor their work as in a regular classroom. It goes without saying that the collaborative nature of Google tools assists with this, however, depending on the situation, students’ schedules might not be ideal and they could be working on assignments at various times throughout the day.

It has been my experience that regular communication with parents is essential in an online student’s success. Not all parents are aware of their role when it comes to online learning. Developing this partnership is crucial. Our school has set up student emails so that parents get copies of every message their child gets. So, when I am communicating with a student, the parent is also fully aware of the dialogue taking place. I also make sure to set up guardian summaries on Google Classroom. Parents are able to choose how often they receive updates on the progress their child is making (daily/weekly).

How To Implement It All

When all is said and done, everything really boils down to one question. How do I start to teach my students online? Here’s the easy answer – Start slowly, don’t expect perfection, and keep the lines of communication open. BONUS ANSWER – surround yourself with other supportive educators. We are all in this together. 🙂

Technology Suggestions (The Basics)

• Zoom: try to schedule about an hour a day of online interaction with you and your students. Even if this means you’re doing a check-in time with them and not a formal lesson.
• Google Classroom: use this as an organizational tool for tasks/assignments and a communication tool with students & parents.
• G Suite: consists of Slides, Docs, Forms, etc. and is ideal for creating interactive, collaborative, online tasks.

Technology Suggestions (Beyond The Basics)

• NearPod: use this to create an interactive slide deck to keep students engaged during online lessons.
• Screencasify: for creating video tutorials that can be posted to Google Classroom