Teaching in a virtual classroom can be quite overwhelming. In a traditional classroom, everyone is within your sight and you can see who is struggling and who is not. That is a bit more difficult to do when you are online. Tracking the progress of every individual can be tedious – even if you are given all the data that you need to analyze their learning experience.
This is the reason why you need to do everything you can to make things as simple as possible. To do this, you have to make sure the course will require the least amount of supervision from you. According to the experts, the trend is towards self-directed learning. This will make online teaching easier because learners would want to be proactive when it comes to their education.
Tips to simplify teaching online
Of course, that does not mean you should not help them. Here are some tips that will help you simplify teaching in a virtual classroom by making it optimized for self-directed learning.
Use a simple LMS with clear navigation
Start by choosing the right learning management system that you will use. You need to make sure that everything about the course is easy to use and navigate. Look at the course through the eyes of the learner. Or better yet, have someone else look at it and run the course. It has to be user-friendly even for those who are not tech-savvy. All the tabs and navigation elements should be self-explanatory.
Give clear instructions
You can also simplify the teaching if you give clear instructions. Two sets of instructions are important. First of all, you have to tell them how to get started. Then, you have to let them know how to progress and excel in the virtual classroom. This should give them the confidence to go through the course on their own.
Simplify the language
Using clear and simple terms will help make communication less likely to be misunderstood. After all, communication is one of the ways you can ensure success in the elearning process. Ensure that everything is phrased in a simple way so the learners will understand the lesson. If there is a need to mention industry-specific terms or jargons, it has to be defined clearly to avoid confusion.
Be cautious of the layout
The visual elements in the virtual classroom are also very important. After all, we learn best through visual means. Our brain is wired to accept visual elements easier than text. That means you have to make sure the lesson takes into consideration how the learners will view it. For instance, you might want to use bullet points or numbered sequences to explain something. An infographic is also helpful. Having white spaces on the page or even an email will help make reception of the message go as smooth as possible.
Provide a list of FAQs
Finally, teaching online will be easier if there is a page or area where learners can access FAQs. This will keep them from having to bother you because they know where to go to if they have questions. Not only that, it will make them feel more independent as they search for the answers to their own questions.
Teaching in a virtual classroom certainly has its advantages and disadvantages. But if you can simplify the lesson effectively without compromising the ideas, that should help you be successful in reaching elearning goals.
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