For this post, I have made a short video discussing some major concepts from my Educational Technology course this semester.
Unfortunately, I could not get the video to embed no matter what I tried so I have included a Vimeo link to watch it instead!
For this topic, I have created a VoiceThread presentation to quickly discuss some crucial elements of online teaching in order to support all learners.
My VoiceThread presentation is linked below:
https://voicethread.com/share/22732100/
It can be difficult to adequately address students who are not participating in class. While a variety of outside factors influence a student’s participation such as inadequate food or shelter, many students lack motivation or cannot grasp content or expectations. To figure out if the issue lies in motivation or lacking mastery of content, educators can use “The Can’t Do/Won’t Do Assessment”. This is a quick assessment that can give teachers a better measure of what a student needs to succeed. First, pick out two similar assignments for a student to complete. Then, identify what motivates the student and provide the first assignment without any extra incentives. Then, offer an incentive and instruct the student to complete the next task. If their second task shows more than 15% improvement from the first, motivation is likely the student’s problem- rather than a lack of skills. This diagnostic test can be crucial in identifying the next steps for intervention.
If it is determined that students lack the skills needed to complete tasks, you can first reteach content in a different mode to reinforce concepts. This review can help many students to achieve proficiency. However, if this intervention does not prove to be effective, you may need to assess a student’s self-evaluation skills to ensure that they monitor their own progress and can identify issues with their concepts of topics. If students are still struggling after using these tactics, you may need to use Multi-Tiered Support Systems (MTSS) to provide smaller-group support based on what interventions they need and how rigorous of support is required for them to succeed. In the most severe of cases (ex: if MTSS interventions fail), students may need to be evaluated by supporting teachers in the necessary content area. Ultimately, the support offered to a student needs to be individualized and personalized depending on their own strengths and weaknesses. Providing assistance to students cannot be treated as a one-size-fits-all situation.
Provide clear expectations for standards of work and conduct by use of rubrics, constructive feedback, and open opportunities for students to ask clarifying questions.
Use discussion boards and other tools to encourage peer communication.
Utilize a variety of mediums for instruction and demonstrations of knowledge to have students practice a variety of learning and expression modes.
Let students voice feedback at multiple points throughout the course
Encourage students to consider peers’ perspectives in a respectful manner.
As someone who has taken numerous online courses throughout my time in school, I understand just how important it is for instructors to maintain student motivation to minimize burnout. Overall, clear communication is crucial to an online classroom environment. This includes allowing students to access rubrics and clear expectations for work quality. Especially for students that find themselves anxious in the school setting, having a rubric takes out some of the “guesswork” that puts added stress on students. Additionally, allowing peer interaction can be beneficial to students in online classes because it creates a sense of belonging and minimizes lonely feelings that are felt by students in asynchronous environments especially. By giving students a chance to share their perspectives and respectfully discuss others’ opinions, students are productively exposed to ideas that may differ from their own. Further, multimedia instructional and demonstrative tools maintain student attention and prepare them for real-world situations. This can include delivering instruction using a mix of video, PowerPoint, and infographic sources, and allowing students to choose how they demonstrate their learning, often using a detailed rubric as a guideline. Finally, as an instructor, collecting and analyzing student feedback is crucial to improving courses and allowing students to feel that they have a voice. Ultimately, students that have a sense of belonging in online learning environments are more likely to maintain motivation and productively engage in learning processes.
The following infographic provides statistics and information regarding online assessment methods, with a specific emphasis on the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on virtual learning environments.
