You’ve been in the driver’s seat for remote teaching a while now so you’re starting to understand what it takes to be successful.  Let’s take a look at 10 Things Successful Teachers Do During Remote Teaching.

When you’re thrown into being an online teacher, it isn’t always easy to be super positive.  It was such a sudden change for all of us!

But, online teaching can be as rewarding as teaching live students in a classroom. Let’s face it, online classes aren’t going away anytime soon.  Not only are we remote teaching because of the Covid-19 pandemic, but the rapid advancement of technology makes online learning a reality.  And we are literally living it right now!

So, today, I’m bringing to you ten practices and principles that you can use to excel as a remote teacher.  These were shared with me by Michael Gorman.  Let’s get started!

Now, I have to say that the suggestions that we are going to discuss are not revolutionary in any way. In fact, they’ll seem like common sense. However, I just want you to take a little bit of time and think about how you can use them remotely.  All you need to do is make a connection between what you do in a physical classroom and what you do online.

1. Show up every day

As a teacher, we have to be in class every day with our students. When you teach a live class, you don’t leave them to use their devices any way they deem fit. You stay and engage them in a wide variety of teaching activities such as explaining, illustrating, guiding, and answering questions. You arrive early to prepare for your class. You spend a few more minutes after class supporting students who need extra support.

The same applies to remote teaching. You need to create a meaningful schedule that will actively involve your remote students. You can keep your students engaged by:

• Posting short videos that help with a topic or assignment

• Answering questions sent to your email or online forums and chats

• Talking with your students in different online platforms such as Zoom or Google Meet

• And of course, marking and grading students in a timely fashion

Let’s face it, putting that time every day is just what we do.

2. Put yourself in students’ shoes

Online students are not close to you physically. They’ll do their coursework alone or maybe even in public spaces like libraries or cafes. In fact, just the other day, one of my students attended a Class meet up from Dunkin Donuts.

Since they don’t have you or their peers to help guide them, online learning can lead to a strong sense of isolation and need for support, especially at certain age groups that depend on their relationships with friends.

How do you prevent this as an online teacher? By anticipating it while designing your lessons.

So use this simple arts-integrated SEAL strategy that builds empathy and puts yourself in your students’ shoes.

You can do this by imagining what your kids’ days may be like.  Are they home or traveling to a parent’s workplace?  Are they babysitting siblings or fighting for parental support?  Or are they thriving in this online world?

You can also put yourself in your students’ shoes by looking at your assignments with fresh eyes and watching your own tutorials.

Do they make sense? Is everything as clear as it can be?  You can even ask a colleague to evaluate your online assignments. You may be surprised at the things you missed.

When learning online, students should easily understand what you are teaching and what’s expected of them.

3. Familiarize yourself with technology

In our world today, educational platforms and tools make it easier for students and teachers to interact.

The problem is that there are SO MANY to choose from!  Look to your district for guidance and see if there are tools they prefer and be sure to bring up tools you think are beneficial as well.  Knowing the benefits and limitations of these platforms and tools will save a lot of time in the long run.

The trick is to not get overwhelmed and certainly not to overwhelm your students and their families.

Once you have everything chosen, you will be ready to master it and use it well on a consistent basis.

4. Set realistic goals

You will need to learn how to manage your expectations especially when it comes to covering topics and lessons.

Again, you will need to first understand what your administration expects of you and then work from there.

Always keep in mind your mental health along with that of your students.  While online learning can be successful, it can also be a lot of work.  Be sure to build in time to take care of yourself and check in with your students as well.

5. Take advantage of the resources available

As custom essay writing reports, the resources that you choose to use can help in keeping your students engaged. Take advantage of the amazing resources you have at your fingertips.  Online museums and field trips, concerts, and instructional videos on YouTube and video editing software only scratch the surface of the opportunities out there for you and your students.

Just like you would in your own classroom, having a variety of hands-on learning, group work, and discussions are all ingredients for an engaging online classroom.

6. Bridge physical isolation

Social distancing measures can lead to feelings of isolation and stress.  This is a big issue with many of our students.  Our job as teachers is to help bridge physical isolation by using the tools or platforms that help build relationships.

Online games, Friendly Friday Meet Ups, and video watch parties can be a great way to build community in your classroom and help your students to connect with each other. This will not only improve interaction among classmates, but also the performance of students.

7. Troubleshoot

If you will be using a new platform or resource, there are certain things that you can do to support your students and increase the chances of their success. Creating a small and easy to understand set of instructions (including how to log on) is important. And of course, email it to them before you start your lessons.

Another thing I love to do is create a video that shows exactly how to get on and navigate a website.  I use Loom.com.  It is a simple Google extension that you can use to record yourself, your screen, or both.  And what’s really great is when you are done, Loom gives you options of how you want to share your video.  My favorite way to share it is with a linked gif.  I copy the code and insert it right into my emails.

8. Provide examples

We all learn important concepts and principles through examples. Even though you might not have all your own materials and resources at your fingertips in your own home, take some time to try and come up with relevant examples you can share.  Your online students will easily grasp difficult concepts with examples.

You can create an example, take a picture and share it in a comment thread or in a video class.  Or you could incorporate videos or short stories with pictures. Without you in front of them, you students may lose a little bit of confidence in getting started with an assignment, so providing as many examples as you can just make the difference one student needs.

9. There is no one fit

Just like any live classroom, different subjects and different students require different learning approaches. There is no single solution that will work in all situations. You can only know what works through trial and error. Therefore, don’t hesitate to try out new things and remember, making mistakes is ok and expected.

10. Seek help

You are not the only one struggling to improve your skills as an online teacher.  Believe me! The majority of teachers I talk to in my own state and across the country are struggling with the same issues.

In fact, interacting with other teachers regularly on forums and in online communities may actually keep you going and help you solve problems without having to try out every strategy that comes to mind.

I would love to invite you to join our Inspiring Teachers Community.  In there we are always sharing ideas, stories, and laughs about education.  It’s a great place to be!  Be sure to check out our private FB group.  The link is in the description and comments.

As technology continues to advance, you should keep in mind that it will never replace you. Students need teachers to learn and understand critical concepts. So, consider these ten tips, and let’s see how much you can excel as a remote teacher!

I’m sending you all my best.

Take care of yourself.

These ideas were sent in by Michael Gorman.  Michael is a highly skilled freelance writer and proofreader from the UK who currently works at college essay writers and essay writer uk. Being interested in everyday development, he writes various blog posts and discovers new aspects of human existence every day. Feel free to contact him via Facebook or check his Twitter.