Do they seem impossible to bring
into a virtual, sundry, enchanted classroom?
They might now. But let us look at
some strategies we can use to heighten them a bit so when they enter the
screen-top they do not lose their table-top dynamic. Here are a few ways you
can transform without losing the magic of your well-thought out and designed
lessons.
- Break down the lesson and make it digestible. We as
educators chunk our assignments already. We differentiate. But, for
virtual learning, we have to even more. Give less information and create
scavenger hunts, web quests and collaborative chats where they can share
their findings.
- If students are given specific places to look, short
video clips or webpages to browse they will visit them. Rather than having
students write out answers or create documents- have them discuss in
group. Have them verbally talk in a chat room, you can record it and
listen later, or have them discuss in a blog format. Either way if there
is discussion happening, it is more likely students are engaged.
- Give students a feeling of ownership and control.
Rather than strict deadlines, be more flexible on due dates, demonstration
of knowledge and delivery diversity. Some students like to create podcasts
or video clips of them demonstrating their findings. Some students would
prefer to type something up or draw sketch notes and write stories. Let
them choose.
- Be a storyteller not a lecturer. When we are on-line,
we get easily distracted. When the internet is at our fingertips we often
get lured into its grasp. So how can we keep them engaged in our required
space of learning? We can keep it exciting and magical? We can keep our
lessons like stories, adventures. Keep them guessing.
- Stories
tap into emotions, so we are apt to remember information delivered in
stories. If you are reading something difficult, you are more likely to
“get it” if the writer uses an example to illustrate what they are trying
to get across. Case studies are a great
way to keep them interested in an otherwise mundane topic. Stories about
the content rather than just facts and details, keeps students more
connected to the curriculum.
- Assigning
study buddies, I found was a great way to keep students on task and moving
forward through the virtual content. They checked in with each other
daily, they posted comments together in the chats and problem-solved the
daily questions together in a google doc. Keeping the camaraderie alive is
so important in a virtual classroom.
- Extrinsic motivators like certificates and digital
badges show others in the virtual classroom, what you know and what
you can do, but intrinsic motivators drive a person forward. Intrinsic
motivation compels a student to keep doing difficult tasks, like juggling
an online course with other responsibilities. How can we do this?
- We want our students to have a sense of purpose that
fuels their participation and engagement. They should know that what they
are doing in class matters. Remind students how their new knowledge and
skills will help them make a difference in the world, even in small ways-
how it inspires you. Talk about how this new expertise helps them improve
their understanding of the big picture and will help them grow in a future
that will be filled with on-line learning and technology-based
professions.
- Create talking points. Small hurdles for them to
problem-solve. Keep the class dialogue going by inserting some side
adventures or yes, distractors. When they feel like they got away from the
content for a bit, like a brain break, they feel more invested in the
process once they return to it.
Part 3 in this series will start to
take specific lessons and transform them into hybrid activities
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