✨ Prepare EVERYTHING before the course:
Preparation has never been more important. Prepare all your documents and activities before the class, make sure the documents are easily accessible during your class, test all the links for interactive activities… nothing is worse than being lost during an online session. In-person classes allow you to go out and make photocopies, or change your schedule, which is harder to do in a virtual class. So, prepare EVERYTHING beforehand.
✨ Communicate with your learners (course terms, necessary documents, etc.)
Nothing beats communication when you have an online course. Inform your learners and explain all the terms of the course. Share the documents and ask them to read them before the course to avoid confusion (and wasted time) during the session.
✨ Master all the tools you will need
Train yourself and master the whole range of tools you will need for your course. Videoconferencing platforms, applications that will allow you to create documents and activities and share them with your learners… you no longer have the right to be reluctant to use ICT.
✨ Prepare a slideshow with the session program
It is important that learners know what you will be doing during the course. Prepare a slideshow with the first page devoted to the session agenda. Be clear about the topic, documents and activities.
✨ Share your screen during the session
It is important to share your screen during class so that learners can see the material you are covering, even if you have already shared the materials and your learners are all comfortable with technology.
✨ Do sequences of several 30 to 40 minute sessions
The adult attention span is between 20 and 40 minutes for face-to-face lessons, so don’t try to keep your learners’ attention for two or three hours. Consider doing a series of 30-40 minute sessions with different activities.
✨ Make sure learners participate.
How do you get all learners to participate? Invite and encourage them to speak. Another very useful strategy during discussions and group discussions is to ask the learner to name the next speaker. Here is an example:
✨ Vary activities to ensure active learning
Just like in-person classes, you need to vary your activities to keep your learners’ attention. Think about interactive activities that they can do on their computer. Choose activities that are motivating and engaging.
✨ Prioritize collaborative work
Some video conferencing platforms offer you the option to divide the group into subgroups for group work. Have them work in subgroups using this feature. You can also use collaborative writing platforms, such as Padlet, Google Docs/Slides etc.
✨ Have a Plan B in case of an unstable connection
What would you do if your connection is unstable? If there is a power outage? Or if the videoconferencing app cuts you off too often? Prepare activities that learners can do independently in case of technical issues.
