Be a feedback master

Web conferencing hacks

Web conferencing enables students and teachers to connect virtually online. This face-to-face medium is awesome for distant learning and your digital classroom.

Checklist

Tech checklist – make sure your computer can web conference and test your settings Make sure your computer has a webcam or purchase and plug in Sound quality – do you have headphones with a microphone? Your space – do you have a clear, quiet space without distraction or interruption?

Teach online like a pro!

Virginia Cluff is Head Teacher of Science, delivering online education at Aurora College – a NSW Virtual Selective High School. Here are her top tips for running web conferences.

1.

Be prepared

Utilise OneNote or another online platform to have your lesson mapped out, links embedded, questions to be answered, your presentation ready and linked into the page.

2.

Be engaging

You are teaching in ONLY 2D not 3D so ask questions and get feedback. Use a variety of platforms eg. Microsoft Teams, Google Classroom etc. In online learning, students don’t copy notes from a board, we give them all to them ... lessons are conversational, and you are asking them to consider the information and answer a question, apply the information, demonstrate understanding. Videos, interactives, Kahoot quizzes, problems to solve all help to keep the learning engaging.

3.

Be a feedback master

As your students are going to be digitally answering questions, give them feedback on how they are progressing. This can be marked on screen (with a red pen-style tick), or better still verbally. Some platforms allow you to leave verbal feedback for students that records your annotations in time with your feedback.

4.

Create a great environment for lesson delivery

The best place is a desk connected to high quality internet. For me, it’s my home office with cabled internet plugged into my laptop. I love dual screens – my laptop connected to an external monitor with the display extended. I can then easily see the classroom setup and the second screen can be the material I’m sharing with the students. My laptop and a headset with a microphone are essential to teach online.