How to teach online? Useful and easy tips to follow

Now that everyone is talking about converting conventional forms of work into eLearning, now that traditional classrooms are seeking to become eLearning classrooms, people have finally realized that work from home is actually a viable form of work! People who work remotely, work as hard as you, pay the same taxes as you, and in most cases are more productive than you. This is because freelancers or professionals who have chosen this path are extremely experienced in this practice as they apply it for years and by recognizing its value, they have been reaping the fruits of their effort for a long time now. But how can somebody who is not experienced enough adapt and survive this situation?

Follow these easy and useful tips that will help you learn how to become a succesful eLearning educator.

Let's start with the premise that e-learning is the safest method of training in times of global health crisis as it allows the trainee to be completely isolated from the physical dangers that lie ahead. However  due to the situation created by the new virus (coronavid-19), many professionals, educators or not, pushed by the constraints that governments around the world issue, are forced to or will be forced to work remotely. In this case, with no previous teleworking experience, the chances of failing in this venture increases exponentially. This article will not focus on the necessary characteristics that modern teachers should have, as recorded in a previous article, but will instead focus on practices that have the potential to enhance one's ability to teach and work from home in general.

Online Course Design

It is imperative to differentiate a distance learning course from a regular classroom session. Special preparation is required with regard to the tools to be used. Their flawless operation should be checked before the lesson begins so that the teacher may prevent potential malfunctions during their usage. If an LMS (Learning Management System) digital platform is already being used in the classroom before the transition, it is advisable to stick with it for the sake of usability and speed, as each new tool requires to be familiar to its users. Examples of such platforms are Edmodo, Moodle, Canvas, TalentLMS, iSpring Learn and docebo. Of course, they are not the only tools that one can use but they are certainly some of the most popular. An LMS platform as an asynchronous e-learning tool, that does not require the simultaneous presence of all participants, will allow the lesson and trainees to be well organized as it will be used as a digital space where the classroom and students will be virtually hosted. There, will be the gathering place, where users interact (for example via the use of a communication forum) and the announcement board that will be informing students about the activities that will take place while at the same time providing them with a place to be informed by the teacher, without the need for personalized communication. Keep in mind that a digital platform has to be enriched with the necessary tools that can enhance student engagement as well as boosting their interest in digital learning. Such gamification tools can be badges for successful completion of goals, a leaderboard system, virtual prizes and more.

Next, a careful selection of the tools that will be integrated into the digital platform should be done, and a lot of thought should be spend on selecting the right videoconferencing tool that will be used to engage students in contemporary learning. During the usage of such a software participant will in a variety of ways, mainly through live video as well as via a written communication system, the so-called chat room. Such a tool is essential as it will help learners overcome one of the major problems of distance learning which is none other than possible isolation that the student may feel due to lack of face-to-face communication. Through live video, teachers and students will be able to talk and interact as they would have done in any video call. There is a multiple software available for this purpose, some for free and others for money, such as Skype, Big Blue Button, Zoom, Blackboard, Slack and Google Hangouts. Some of them have options such as live polls, sharing the presenter’s screen, managing attendees and various other goodies that may come in handy.

If you plan to teach online keep in mind that it is extremely important to have a backup plan. Often technology fails, especially when it comes to using it in front of the world or doing a demonstration using a technology tool, so having alternatives is imperative. For example, let’s suppose you have made a great presentation ον It is also necessary to always have a backup plan. It is really common for technology to fail, especially when it comes to using it in front of the world or doing a demonstration using a technology tool, so alternatives are imperative. For example, you have made a great presentation at the interactive presentation tool called Nearpod but at the moment the software is not responding. What a well-prepared teacher would have done, would be to have a presentation on one’s hard disk in PowerPoint format so that he/she would use instead.

Another option would be to have a second device available that could be used in the event of a malfunction of the central computer. In such cases a cheap laptop with a decent microphone and camera could be a lifesaver.

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