Online Teaching Best Practices

Create engaging environment

Add music/slide to fill silences (at beginning)

Use Slides as Virtual Background or share a second screen to display timer/scoreboard

Plan prompts/ questions intentionally

"What do you see?"

"What are strategies for playing this game successfully?"

"Create a 10-word headline for this picture."

Ensuring engagement

Check via frequent, minimal interactions

"Show your deck of cards when done."

"Type 1 in the chatbox if..."

Visualize instructions/answers on slide in simple language

Clear staging. Proceed as a class.

Give alternative task if too hard.

Encourage 🙋🏻🖐 to signal wanting to speak

More formative assessment methods

Promoting Thinking

Selecting Students

Popcorn Method
(student-centered)

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No cold calling. Students speak when they are ready.Optional: Time limitBenefit: Removes the pressure of being called upon. Gives every student the time they need to think.

Hot Potato Method
(randomization)

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Student A shares. Chooses the next.Student B shares. Chooses the next...Variation 1: Next person must repeat what the first person said to promote listening and remembering.Variation 2: Each student asks a question of the next student.Benefit: More student-led.

Student picker tool
(randomization)

Waterfall Method
(at the same time)

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Teacher asks prompt question to the classEach student types their answer into the chat boxWhen teacher says go, everyone sends their answer together.Benefits: Allows all students time to think in parallel.

Teacher-defined order

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By date of birth, alphabetical, according to my screen layout.Benefit: Gives students a sense of predictability, time to prepare.

Questioning techniques

Assign thinking roles in advance

Assign thinking roles in advance

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Fabulous 4: PredicterClarifierQuestionerSummarizer6 Thinking Hats: Blue Hat (Conductor): controlling, decision makingGreen Hat (Creative): explore ideas, possible waysRed Hat (Heart): feelings and instincts, without needing logicYellow Hat (Optimist): benefits and the added value that could come from the ideasBlack Hat (Judge): cautious, critical judgement and assessing risksWhite Hat (Factual): gather information

Promoting S-S interaction

Devote start of year to technical training

Download apps on computer+phone

Teams

Posting/responding to discussion thread

Assignments: Find assignment/rubric, submit assignment, review feedback

Calendar

Microsoft Forms

finding answers,
feedback

OneNote

annotating

Office

Edge Browser

Immersive Reader

Podcast playlist

Disable internet

Complementary apps
(keep to a minimum)

YouTube

Quizlet

Flipgrid

Post

Comment

Miro

Padlet

Learning how to learn

Pommodorro Technique

Create mind maps

Pencil+notebook

Collaborate on a document

Jigsaw

StayQurious, 2022