In today's post, I will be discussing three different practices that teachers can use in order to build a sense of community in online learning. Online learning used to be something that only college students had to utilize, and even then it was minimal. The fact is before 2020 we all had no idea that comprehensive learning could really happen in an online setting for elementary, middle school, and even high school students. I mean, how could the teacher possibly implement a lesson plan without being right there with the students? The global pandemic forced everyone to take a step back and use tools that we never even knew were available, like zoom! Utilizing these tools is the first step in creating a community for your online learners. Explore all of the apps and websites until you find one that best suites the needs of you and your students, is user friendly, and cohesive. Trying to learn remotely can be challenging enough, the last thing students and teachers need to deal with is technical difficulties that can prevent them from gaining the knowledge they need and completing their tasks. There are many sites to choose from, such as, Zoom, BlueJeans, Google Meet, Skype, Microsoft Teams, Melon, Big Blue Button, and many more, but instructors need to use care in picking one that allows for their students to stay engaged, track participation, and allow for ease of communication with instructors and peers. Picking the right platform is the first key step.
The second practice an online instructor should implement is staying connected with students. Online learning is a challenge for everyone, especially for the young students that have no prior experience in remote classes, so this adjustment can be a major learning curve. It is so important for the instructors to give all their students their full support and attention. Teachers can do this by regularly checking in with students, especially those who's grades seem to be dropping, offer remote tutoring, and making sure they are giving their students every tool and all the information to set them up for success. It can be so easy to feel isolated in an online setting. In my experience, I have often felt as if the teacher wasn't really there and I was basically teaching myself everything with little to no support, this can also lead to feeling defeated and lonely which is why so many children have struggled so much with their mental health the past three years. Therefore, it is vital for online teachers to ensure all of the students are equipped with all the materials they need, create a cohesive and easy to follow lesson plan, and of course, check in with students regularly to make sure they actually understand what their doing and offer support when needed.
Lastly, in order to create a feeling of community and togetherness, instructors can regularly organize things like ice breakers and games to get students acquainted with each other and their teacher, thus making them feel more comfortable in the setting. Every single second does not have to filled with work and lectures, students deserve brain breaks and they provide perfect opportunities to work together on fun things and get to know more about their peers to form connections. For ice breakers, teachers should think outside the box. Don't simply have the students introduce themselves and give a fun fact. They will be uninterested and simply want to get it over with instead of being engaged. Instead, play games like Marooned, Six Word Story, a "What Am I" game, or Get to Know You BINGO. These are just some of the different and fun ways of getting students to get to know each other or team build. These kinds of activities can be implemented every once in a while when students, and even teachers, need a break and time to rest their brain. They can simply have fun together and form bonds without even realizing.
The practice that is most appealing to me is staying connected with students! As a current preschool teacher the one thing I value above all is forming and maintaining a close bond with my students to make sure they know they are safe with me and that I am always here to help. The success of my students will be a direct reflection on me so I would want to ensure any students that may need extra help and attention get just that. Not only do I want to check on their knowledge and understanding of the material, but even more importantly in an online setting I would want to regularly check with them regarding how they're feeling and overall just making sure the pressures and stress of life and school are not getting the best of them. My number one priority will always be the well-being and needs of my students so this practice is a no-brainer for me.
Hi Carissa! I see that we went in different but similar directions with the methods of encouraging students we discuss, which I think is so great. I like how you mentioned an importance of the applications used, as all give different ways of teaching, come with technical difficulties, or even don't provide accessability to students who need it. With your ice breakers, I appreciate the ideas of doing games rather than just a hello and a fact. Icebreakers like the latter always frustrated me with how shallow it seemed, and providing methods to encourage socialization taught me that there are so many other ways to go about it even if we aren't face to face. Being a teacher, have you ever had to use any of the apps you mentioned? Which ones would/have you used and why?
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