As remote learning and online teaching have gained momentum, particularly in response to the global coronavirus pandemic, more educators have reported difficulties such as absenteeism, incomplete work or lack of submission, and more difficulty engaging with students and ensuring inclusion. The rate of learning and the quality of retention may be suffering. Both teachers and students have had to adjust their modes of teaching and learning and apply increased diligence.
In any classroom, whether physical or virtual, encouraging students to participate can be a challenge. Learners can be distracted, quiet, or inhibited, making interaction less frequent and learning less efficient. The digital classroom environment magnifies this effect. Students are at home with substantially more distractions present, and being alone and at a distance may feel even more disconnected from the class.
However, just as in traditional classrooms, there are ways to promote participation through engagement. The more engaged students are, the more likely they are to be learning.
With remote education, more than ever, engaging the learners is crucial, and holding their attention vital.
Encourage synchronous learning, that is, learning together as if in an actual classroom, by:
Equally, ensure asynchronous learning, where the student studies or works on an assignment alone:
Creating a feedback loop with students is essential to maintain engagement and check their understanding. You can do the following:
We offer free virtual classroom software, an open-source education-specific web conferencing solution designed for remote learning. Ours is a readily accessible and comprehensive option designed to meet diverse needs and uses. Our software allows moderators complete technical control and, even though open-source, is customizable. What’s more, our software is purely web based meaning there is no need to install an application. It’s also fully responsive, allowing users to use it on their mobile devices.
Our users can securely host ‘classes’, share screens, presentations, audio and visual materials, word and pdf documents, and recordings. Our solution further provides the perfect collaborative tools to address student engagement and participation concerns:
We strive to provide the best web conferencing solution along with educators and our users’ input. If you have any feedback, insight, or development requirements, please contact us.