InstructureCon 2024 | July 9th – 11th
InstructureCon 2024
July 9th – 11th
InstructureCon 2024 | July 9th – 11th
InstructureCon 2024
July 9th – 11th
The BigBlueButton virtual classroom is designed to make online teaching easier and more effective. Thanks to its open-source base, it works well in all browsers (desktop or mobile) without the need for downloads or installations. With this software and its many functionalities, you have a solid medium to give almost any lesson. Knowing how to make the best use of the available technology will prevent many stressful situations and allow you to concentrate on engaging with your students.
Preparing well is another way of preventing stressful moments in your online class. This applies not only to you as a teacher but also to your students. Shortly before your planned lesson takes place, make sure you email them a checklist so they know what you expect of them. Resist the temptation to list the items as text in a spreadsheet or word processor but invest some time to present everything nicely.
Of course, as a BigBlueButton moderator, you have specific options at your command, such as turning the microphone on and off yourself. You can also decide which functions you want to lock to avoid students accidentally unmuting themselves while you are presenting, for instance.However, you can also leave this to your students, giving them a chance to contribute constructively to the lesson.
You can use this checklist again for future sessions. If necessary, make adapted versions depending on the material you are going to teach. This will prevent your students from shrugging off the list because they have seen the advice before.
Welcome each pupil who enters the chat personally. Break the ice with small talk, and pay attention to little details: someone has a new haircut, or you can see the sun pouring into someone’s room. Commend them if joining went smoothly, even though you know that this is mainly due to BigBlueButton being versatile, powerful, and intuitive. Be sure to check that everyone is present before you start.
Students crave structure and like to know what they can expect, so supply a line-up at the beginning, especially if your online session will be longer than an hour. Start by discussing the learning goal; which can help increase your students’ focus.
Provide variation with videos, work time, conversation, work in small groups and individual assignments. Keep any videos brief and to the point. Depending on the age of your students and their ability to remain attentive, the time should vary between 3 and 15 minutes. Keep all files pertaining to the lesson together in the same folder. Of course, any offline attributes should be within easy reach as well.
Keep in contact with your pupils. BigBlueButton has a powerful yet simple function to quickly break down a large group of students into subgroups while retaining the possibility to have one on one chats. This characteristic tries to blend real-world collaboration in a digital format, making it a more engaging online experience for our users. So, use it to your advantage. Also, change the composition of the groups occasionally.
Provide variation with videos, work time, conversation, work in small groups and individual assignments. Keep any videos brief and to the point. Depending on the age of your students and their ability to remain attentive, the time should vary between 3 and 15 minutes. Keep all files pertaining to the lesson together in the same folder. Of course, any offline attributes should be within easy reach as well.
Specifically for younger students, it is important to introduce a fun factor and playful elements when you are teaching them. Older students, too, will value a break if the material is relatively complex. The BigBlueButton poll function is excellent to create small quizzes, possibly in combination with PowerPoint and Kahoot! While you ask the quiz questions, you may consider turning off everyone’s microphones to avoid someone slipping up and saying an answer too early.
“Do Not Forget to Take Breaks”
Any online session that takes longer than an hour should include regular breaks. Encourage your students to take a moment away from their computer to get something to eat or drink, and to stretch or move around k. Also, resist the urge to remain in your seat yourself. Get moving! Consider that if you do 3.75 minutes of moderately strenuous exercise every hour on an 8-hour working day, it amounts to half an hour of activity – the minimum recommended by most heart foundations. It improves the function of your heart, muscles, and bones. Indirectly, it stimulates your brain – after all, the brain is vital for teaching!
To paraphrase Benjamin Disraeli: hope for the best, but be prepared for the worst. Despite your careful planning and even though BigBlueButton is excellent classroom software, chaos may yet ensue. When this occurs, keep a cool head, and remember the BigBlueButton options at your disposal:
