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Teaching Online? We can help.

Rhonda Abrams
online teaching

PlanningShop has been working with online classes for well over a decade. We have many digital resources you can access immediately:

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Well before the Coronavirus crisis began, we had seen more and more classes moving online. Now, virtually all classes have gone virtual. Here are some resources and tips to help you with the transition.

Successful Transitioning to Online Teaching

The following tips will help you get the most out teaching online:

  1. Create a schedule for yourself. Like many Americans, you may be social distancing at home. Working from home can be a big challenge. Structure your day and create a schedule you can stick to.
  2. Plan your classes. You wouldn’t show up at a lecture without a plan. Online classes are no different. Plan the usual—your lecture, the topics you’ll cover, readings, assignments, and so on. Because your students can’t access some of the usual resources they might rely on, such as the school’s library, do some research into helpful online resources they can use.
  3. Choose your technology. Depending on your class size, consider teaching live via video, rather than just posting documents and information on Blackboard. Your students will appreciate seeing a familiar face during this crisis. They’ll also get some social interaction with other students that we all crave during social distancing. Zoom is a great platform for this. You can use the free version for up to 100 people. With Zoom, you can share your screen and record your class for students to watch at a later time. You and your students will need reliable, strong internet connections.
  4. Get comfortable with the technology you choose. If you do use video conferencing, set up a meeting with a family member or friend to learn how to use it. You’ll also find helpful videos on YouTube on how to use whichever technology you use. While most students are great with technology, some aren’t, so send tips on using the tech of your choice.
  5. Figure out where to teach your classes. If you’re on lockdown with your whole family, you’ll need to find a quiet spot to teach from to avoid being distracted by demanding kids, barking dogs, phones ringing, and other background noise. If you have a garage, or attic, or basement, set up your “teaching cave” there so you can get away from it all.
  6. Set office hours. Move your office hours online. Using Zoom, Skype, FaceTime, or Google Hangouts, meet with students one-on-one.
  7. Stay in touch. Give students other ways to communicate with you and each other. Consider setting up a Facebook Group for your class. Use it to post announcements and to prompt conversations among your students.
Resources: Best Practices in Online Instruction

Copyright Rhonda Abrams, 2020

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