Education Perspectives

Who Says an Education Perspectives Old Dog Cannot Learn New Tricks By Alicia Bata, NDU Vice President of Education

After having taught on Interactive Television (ITV) for almost 30 years, I have learned some tricks that have made my classes run smoothly and go hand in hand with online teaching. The environment is not the same as a regular classroom; most of my students are at far away sites and I am usually the only supervisor for the six or seven districts to which I deliver Spanish 1, 2 and 3 classes all day long.

Whether you are teaching in a regular classroom setting, live (synchronously) on ITV, Zoom, Google Meets, or completely online, your class rituals and routines and your good teaching practices will result in excellent classroom management and learning outcomes.

ITV TIPS

- Create community: just like in a regular classroom, it is crucial to get to know your students. Remind them that even though they are miles away from one another, they are all part of the same team working towards a common goal. Post on your online platform notes of encouragement and individual comments.

- Since my classes are always recorded, the first week of school I give them extra points for signing up for class recordings online; that way, they can watch and continue learning new material when they are absent.

- Set clear expectations and boundaries for communication (office hours, email, etc.). Let them know you are

NOT available 24/7. In the past, students have emailed me at midnight and asked for a response before class the next morning!

- Be flexible (the term of the day is

“fluid”). Technology can go wrong, you may have to change lesson plans and the pace of delivery because of school events, weather (thunderstorms in ND are not wonderful for rural

Internet!), students quarantined at home, and so on.

- Simplify your notes, give explicit instructions both orally and in writing (I post assignments on the overhead board in class or in Google

Classroom). Also, be ready to adjust timing to complete assignments.

- Ask students for feedback often so you know you are “on the same page.”

- Take advantage of technology to look up short videos and comment on them interactively.

- Address multiple intelligences, encouraging students to express themselves through their own creativity: drawing, writing, videoing their own skits, researching, and presenting.

You will find out that some students do much better online than in the regular classroom setting. Do not be afraid of trying new techniques and be honest with your classes when you think things are not meeting your expectations. Rely on your colleagues who may have expertise in areas you do not.