Although in-person classes have been the traditional form of school in the past, online classrooms are becoming increasingly popular. If you are someone who enjoys teaching and appreciates schedule flexibility, then becoming a remote teacher can be a smart career move.
There are many similarities between online and in-person teaching, but there are also some key differences. For example, keeping students engaged in a virtual environment can be more challenging than when in a live classroom. With that said, there are ways you can work to become a more engaging remote teacher.
Creating a Welcoming Environment
In an online classroom, creating a welcoming environment is just as important as in-person classes. For many remote teachers, the scene behind them is a major factor that contributes to the overall personality of their classes. Whether you choose to use an office background free or you create something entirely on your own, there are many ways to make your background more engaging.
You can also add educational maps, literature, art or infographics to your background. Often, doing this is a fun and creative way to encourage questions or general conversation, making your classroom feel more welcoming overall.
Establishing a Culture of Respect and Trust
From the very beginning of your first class, establishing a culture of respect and trust is a must. To do this, you must first establish your presence and move forward in a way that leaves each student feeling like he or she belongs.
In addition, discourage any rude or intrusive behavior. Make your online environment one where your students feel comfortable discussing topics with each other, even in disagreement. Encourage healthy and informed debate, and demonstrate ways to civilly disagree with one another. Having a custom office background can make the experience even more interactive.
Reducing or Eliminating Lecture Time
Even in-person lectures can be boring without enough engagement. When it comes to remote teaching, the risk of boring students increases. Online learning has numerous benefits, but it can also lead to at-home distractions that do not ordinarily exist in a regular classroom.
As a result, being an engaging remote teacher involves extra effort when it comes to keeping students’ attention. Luckily, there are multiple ways to do this. By adding things such as video clips, short group activities and anecdotes to your classes, you can significantly reduce and in some cases, even eliminate your lecture time while keeping the learning level to a maximum.
Providing Opportunities For One on Ones
Whether teaching in-person or online, making yourself available to students is critical if you want to establish meaningful relationships that help your learners understand the material. Undoubtedly, creating opportunities for one on one meetings can be enormously helpful in this regard.
In a physical school, students typically attend office hours for these sorts of meetings, but remote school has the option, too. For example, you can use a variety of virtual office backgrounds to meet with your students online to discuss various classes, topics and assignments.
Being a remote teacher can be a rewarding career opportunity, but maintaining student engagement is a must if you want to be successful. Use these tips to help you put your best foot forward, virtually speaking, of course