Week 6- Online Learning

With this day and age, and with all the growing technology in society, Online Learning and Online Teaching are definitely things to be considered when entering the teaching field. With the outbreak of COVID-19, many schools had to transition to a fairly unfamiliar online model of teaching, one done at home and away from the actual school building. With this has come many breakthroughs in teaching, such as the use of Zoom and other video messaging platforms to communicate in an educational way. Though things are increasingly becoming more normalized in the world of teaching, online school will always have a role to play when it comes to being a teacher. The integration of Blended Learning, a mixture of traditional classroom styles and online techniques, will continue to be useful. With the transition to virtual learning from the pandemic also came the emergence of optional online courses in place of in-person courses. Many schools offer these classes (such as Lakeland) where students can choose to learn through online platforms and not meet face-to-face consistently. It takes a special skill set to instruct these online courses. One must be fluent in technology in order to operate effectively. One must stay organized digitally and have good communication with students and parents. Since in-person presence is nonexistent in online classes, maintaining good communication and relationships can be more difficult. It is important to utilize individual email when teaching an online class, and to always check for updates. Take advantage of email and other online tools when establishing good connections with students through computers. Staying organized is also key both for yourself and for students. Being disorganized can lead to confusion for everyone. When taking advantage of Zoom or other video chats, make sure you are in a quiet and secluded environment to avoid distractions (this goes for both the teacher and for students). Overall, though there are many similarities between online learning and in-person learning, there are also many differences.

Though changes in communication, organization, and teaching styles differ with online learning, another important thing to consider is the effect on physical health and how one can continue to live an active lifestyle while consistently teaching online. Taking breaks from your work as an online teacher and giving yourself time away from your computer is key. Clearly state office and availability hours to your students and parents and give yourself down time when not within those hours. It is also essential to maintain a healthy diet and exercise during that downtime so that you aren't sitting all day (because that isn't good for anyone). Make sure to stretch, walk around, go outside for breaks, and do other little things to help your body out. Being an online teacher can become very sedentary so it's important to take that into consideration and move around. Don't feel guilty for having down time outside of office hours. Take advantage of that. But when inside office hours, make sure you are available for student help if needed. Being an online teacher can be effective if tactics are used wisely.

There are many Dos and Don'ts when it comes to being an online instructor. It is important to integrate a variety of tech tools when teaching online, but it's also important to not go too overboard. Don't use too many apps or platforms because that will get confusing quickly for both you and the students. Rely mainly on a few platforms for communication, assignments, and other things. One also has to strongly consider internet safety for everyone. Avoid using foreign platforms or downloading things that could contain viruses. Also have backups for when a platform or the internet doesn't work. Internet issues are definitely one of the most difficult things to deal with when teaching online. Integrate some activities that don't need an internet service (and can be done offline) just in case the internet doesn't work. Provide PDF copies of work so that if one cannot use a computer for whatever reason, the work can be done on paper and submitted via photo later when access has returned. Aside from the internet, one important thing an online instructor should do is to, of course, instruct. Avoid just giving work and leaving it all for the students. Provide lessons and one-on-one video conferences with the students. Provide many resources both from outside things and ones that you took time to make. Don't just download everything directly from something like Teach-Pay-Teacher, hand it off to the kids, and have them do it. The instructor has much of a role to play in still teaching the material and making it engaging even in an online format. As well, give clear directions from the start to avoid confusion. Still integrate a schedule or a syllabus to keep the kids on track. Check in with students via email or video communication. It is key to not lose the role of "teacher" when being an online teacher.

Online courses are helpful for those who do not live within good distance of a school they want to attend, those that do not have the money to afford attending a college, those who learn better self-paced and on their own, for collectively teaching students from all around, and for people with scheduling conflicts. Online courses are for some but not for everyone, and this goes both for instructors and students. It's essential to be fluent in the knowledge of online schooling in case circumstances cause it. Knowing how to effectively teach and communicate online instead of in-person, as well as establishing relationships and clarity, are key to being successful.