With the Online Quarantine Queens

With our move to remote instruction for the remainder of the semester, Ann and Becky wanted to support you through a brief weekly newsletter.  We’ll provide some teaching tips you can apply in your classes, and connect you to some curated resources that might be helpful to you as you filter through everything you are hearing about teaching online.

When I teach online synchronous sessions, I worry that I’m not connecting with or engaging with students in the same way I did in my in-person classes.  I’ve had to work harder to plan intentional learning experiences for my students in the online setting.  The good news is that there are lots of ways to provide engaging and critical-thinking activities in your Zoom sessions rather than just using the time for PowerPoint lectures that could be recorded.

Try this:

• Use the chat box to have students participate in a check-in.  From a “how are things going?” check-in at the beginning of class to an understanding check of a difficult topic, these typed answers can provide a springboard for a more in-depth conversation.
• Enable breakout rooms in Zoom, and have students participate in small group activities. I’m surprised at how engaged students are when I visit the small groups, and you can use this space to have thoughtful conversations or to work on shared projects.
• Combine the use of small groups with collaborative tools like Google Docs or Nearpod to have students work on a project in their small group time.  Then they can easily share their results with the whole class when you come back together
• Record your synchronous sessions and make them available to students after the class.  This can benefit students who have other obligations that don’t allow them to attend or participate, as well as those students who just want to review what you covered that day.

Resources

Security Tips for Zoom: This great article on our Social Work website provides some tips about how to make good security choices while using Zoom.

Teaching Online Brown Bags: Come join the CTLD for an informal session to talk with other faculty about how teaching is going. The sessions will be facilitated remotely, and will be held at noon on the following dates.  Feel free check the CTLD calendar and sign up for one or more sessions of interest to you!

April 14th: Engaging Activities to Do in Your Synchronous Sessions- Becky Cottrell

April 20th: Moving your Final Assessment Online- Samuel Jay

April 28th: Wrapping up the Semester and Moving Forward