Ed Tech and Tools

Be considerate of time zones: Online students are located around the world. Be mindful of students residing in different time zones from your own, and try to set up session times that can be accommodating.

Send out links in advance: If you have any materials you want students to review prior to the session, this is a good time to remind them of where this information is located or send them the information if it is not already in the LMS. If possible, make sure you have this information posted in the LMS so those students who cannot make the live session also have access to the materials.

Access the meeting area at least 10 minutes in advance: Check to make sure your audio and video work. Post any slides or information you wish students to see upon entering the room.

Check email and course communications prior to the meeting time: As part of your preparation and after you have checked your room and equipment before the meeting, you may also want to check your email/LMS communications system to see if any students have contacted you about problems or requesting more information.

As each student enters the meeting space: Ask students to speak or show themselves on video to help make sure each person’s equipment is working properly.

Start the session on time: Be mindful of your schedule and those of your busy students who may have other activities/events after the live session.

Engage students: Remember not to just talk to students but also to listen to them. Ask them open-ended questions and have them engage with each other. When appropriate, utilize tools such as break out rooms, chats, and polls.

State non-verbals happening in the space: If students are utilizing the chat feature to ask questions or communicate, bring attention to this so that everyone may benefit from the interaction. If students contact you privately during the session and it is appropriate to share that information with other students, you should do so.

Make Sessions Available to Those Who Can’t Attend: If you’re holding a live class session for an online class, it’s unreasonable to expect that all students will be able to attend. Consider recording the session and posting it so that those unable to attend can watch it later. Be sure to inform everyone participating that you are recording the session; it’s both courteous and potentially legally required under PA all-party consent laws.

Prepare a script: While this step may take a little time, it will help you gather your thoughts, make sure you present what you want to, cut down on ‘um’ moments, and help you meet accessibility requirements.

Facilitate interaction: Try to tie in student interactions to your asynchronous recording. For example, you can encourage students to take what you’ve covered in your recording and post comments in a discussion forum.

Offer interactive elements: Include other forms of media, such as videos or audio presentations from other sources, to spice up your recording.