I think we can all agree that engaging your students can be challenging. Engaging them through a computer screen can be even more challenging. The number of distractions are endless. You can’t stand behind them and monitor what they are doing. There are lots of snacks; dogs jumping in their laps; cats walking on the computer (just my class?), and the list goes on. So, what is the trick? Well, there is no magic wand we can wave and get them engaged but there are some things you can do to make your time in your virtual class more valuable for you and for your students.
Your virtual classroom may look different than someone else’s so it is important to remember that you must do what works for you and for your situation. In my school, we hold “office hours” three times a week in 90 minute blocks. Teachers have the ability to choose how they want to use their time, but we are required to connect with our students via video chat 1-2 times a week. I have been delivering instruction in sort of a “flipped classroom” model and using my office hours for interaction and questions. In the few short weeks we have transitioned to distance learning, I have learned some tricks that have made my screen time with my students more engaging and more fun.
1. Connect With Them
Many students are really missing the human connection they get in school each day. They are craving the attention from their teachers and interactions with their peers. Most importantly, they are nervous and unsure about what is going on in the world right now. Where we are (in NY) this pandemic is hitting hard and hitting close to home for many of us. Our students are scared and we need to step in and reassure them.
Just asking how they are doing will go a long way. How can you do this virtually? If you are comfortable with Google, it is a great idea to create a Google Form Check In Sheet. You can ask questions (in English or the target language) that you can push out weekly or bi-weekly just so you can get a pulse on your class. In a traditional classroom, you can look around and see from body language how your students are doing. We are missing that key piece. To combat this, create a quick questionnaire and show them you really care about how they feel. Some questions you may wish to include are:
How are you feeling this week? (Give options-you can even include emojis or pictures)
Why are you feeling this way? (Open-ended)
How can I support you better? (Open-ended)
Is there anything you want me to know? (Open-ended)
A check in like this really goes a long way. Your students will feel like you care and will want to show up to your virtual class and connect with you because they feel your support. Erin over at The Engaged Spanish Classroom has some great ideas on this here.
2. Use Video
If you have been wanting to try “flipped instruction”, now is the time! Something that has worked really well for me is giving my students the “instructional” piece in a video before having our online meet. Students can watch the video (hopefully) as many times as they (personally) need to. When they come to your office hours or meeting, they can bring their questions or actually engage in a conversation with you and the class about the content. You will have something to drive your instruction and this helps to avoid those moments of awkward silence while you wait for questions.
Using your office hours for instruction may be something you want to do and that may work in your personal situation but I know, based on feedback from my students, that they are spending a lot of time in front of the screen. They enjoy the interactive sessions and do not want to be talked “at” for an hour while they just sit there. This is definitely not engaging. This does not mean you shouldn’t teach during your class time, but is there a way you can make the instruction more interactive? Can you give them something to view on their own time so that your time together is more meaningful?
If you are interested in recording yourself for your classes, my new favorite tool is Loom. Loom allows you to record your screen and gives you the option to insert a video of yourself talking through the presentation. I love this tool for a few reasons. First, I use it through my Chrome extension so it takes 2 seconds to pull up. Second, once I am done Loom gives me a link to share the video with my students so I can post it on my Google Classroom. Lastly, my FAVORITE thing: while students are viewing your video they can react using emojis on the Loom website. It’s a fun and different interactive tool that they offer. I am new to Loom and definitely not an expert but I highly recommend giving it a try!
3. Play a Game!
I know that my students LOVE to play games in my class. This was something I knew I needed to bring to our virtual class. It makes them feel like they are back in our classroom, it is part of our routine, and it gets them excited about learning again! It also gives me a chance to survey the class and get an idea of where my students are in their proficiency with that topic.
What can you play?
a) Gimkit (this is my #1 class request)-we play a live group session through our Google meet but Gimkit just dropped an awesome feature where you can “assign” sets to your students so they can play at home. I can’t wait to try it out!
b) Quizlet Live– Again, we play this live during our group sessions. Students can play in teams or individually against one another using a Quizlet set you made or one that you have found on Quizlet.
c) Kahoot – Kahoot just released Student-Paced Challenges where you can assign students a Kahoot to complete with deadlines. I have not tried this yet but will be adding it to my rotation to change things up during my virtual classes!
4. Stop Stressing about Curriculum
I know that this is against everything you’ve ever done BUT let go of the plan. (I am telling this to myself too, as I have to pry my fingers away from my plan book). There is a WORLD pandemic going on right now. You were supposed to cover three more units by the end of the year? No way that’s happening? That’s OK. The important thing to remember is that we need to support our “kids”.
This does not mean stop teaching Spanish. This means, let’s make our class more meaningful for the situation that we are in. Maybe that means assigning them Go Vive a tu Manera on Netflix, or Extra on Youtube, or listening to Spanish music (which you never had time for) and analyzing the lyrics. We are lucky in that our content area allows for adaption. Let’s just figure out how to make our class FUN for them from home. Me? I am planning to do a Scavenger Hunt and ask students to bring some items from around their house to our virtual class. We’ll see how it goes!
In the end, I am in no way an expert on distance learning. I am learning as I go and trying a little bit of everything to help me along the way. Wishing you the best of luck as you prepare to totally rock distance learning!
Here are some other resources that I have found SO helpful:
GoFormative: Why it Should Be Your New Best Friend
Working Movement into Virtual Teaching
Top Four Life & Time Saving Resources for AP Spanish
Feeling totally lost? Check out this post on Distance Learning Made Easy with Choice Boards. I have included a FREE Choice Board Template to get you started. ¡Buena suerte!
