Class time spent on Zoom should be optimized to its full potential. This semester should be viewed as the last learning experience with Zoom as most students expect Spring 2021 to be everything this semester wasn’t.
Most college students view online courses as less effective than in-person education, and more than 90% believe they should pay less for it, according to a survey released by the Charles Koch Foundation and College Pulse.
As we prepare for the Spring 2021 semester, it is important that students let their voices be heard loud and clear to help make everyone’s life easier when it comes to online learning.
One of the biggest problems students have encountered during this new remote learning experience is the feeling of not being on an equal playing field, due to them not having access to a device with a camera and microphone.
Having the class proceed without forementioning the possibility that some students may be in this precarious situation creates assumptions about the ability students have to pay for the requisite technology.
Students have worries of their participation grade suffering or not being able to complete a presentation assignment as a result. That same anxiety or embarrassment will not allow them to speak up and let professors know of their situation.
Professors must take this into consideration as it affects all aspects of remote learning by having a conversation with the student, being understanding, and laying out a plan in which the student is able to engage in the class as much as their situation allows them to.
It is of utmost importance that professors make an effort next semester to take the pressure off students, making it clear how they intend to help as soon as the semester begins.
As the year has passed on it is well-known that remote learning during a time like this can present a multitude of challenges, and pre-recorded lessons can alleviate many of those problems
Because many students do not have reliable internet at home or are sharing devices with other family members, recorded lessons, where students can view pre-recorded lessons on their own schedules, can help immensely.
Professors can use the recording feature on Zoom to create video lessons, then share the videos with students to watch later.
Another issue many students present as an obstacle is that learning on Zoom can be rather dreary. It is often the same method of teaching week after week, providing students a lack of engagement.
Professors can win their student’s attention in a better manner by using a variety of teaching methods including video, presentations, audio, and text. They can also, if able, invite guest speakers so students don’t get weary of seeing the same face and hearing the same voice.
They can also implement break-out room exercises like peer evaluation and brainstorming sessions to help spice up their class sessions every once in a while.
Though many professors practice these exercises already, it should be common practice this upcoming semester.
Torrey Trust, an associate professor of education at University of Massachusetts Amherst, has developed a model that other teachers and professors should really take into consideration for remote teaching, outlining her recommendations with this tweet.
Of course, it still stands that it is ultimately up to the students to make the most of what their professors give them. It just has to be ensured professors are giving their absolute best.