In online teaching, simpler is usually better! Most online students start out feeling overwhelmed – perhaps as early as week one of your course. Usually, they’re juggling work, family, and a range of other commitments. As they already feel time-poor and harassed, they often see online learning as complicated and frustrating... (more…)
I believe online teachers are real life superheroes. Of course we are. We impart new skills and knowledge. We change lives by offering our students a different future. In fact, we make the world a better place every day. And we don’t even need a cape or a sleek, shiny futuristic car to do it! (more…)
Twitter is a seriously overlooked professional tool for online teachers. It's so much more than a time-wasting distraction for teenagers. Use it the right way, and it becomes a career-boosting tool. Online teachers can increase their visibility, develop their networks, and get access to a whole world of teaching opportunities that are simply not available locally. So ...
Online teaching presents a unique professional challenge. You may interact with hundreds of students (and a handful of colleagues) every week. You may send dozens of emails, and return piles of carefully graded student work. But it’s very difficult to know whether your efforts are actually making a difference, isn’t it? (more…)
Inspiration for online teaching can appear in surprising places. Who says it should be confined to conferences or journal articles? When you teach online, the words of celebrated thinkers can offer plenty of food for thought. And Albert Einstein provides a perfect example... (more…)
This quick reference guide involves zero black magic. But many new students are convinced that referencing is the work of the devil. They take one look at all those rules about dates, commas, italics and brackets - and flip out. Right away, referencing starts getting weird. (more…)
When you teach online, you’re always looking for ways to make your job easier, and your students’ experiences more satisfying. Humor is an online teaching tool that can help you achieve both of those goals. But this tool is more powerful than it looks. It pays to think carefully about how you’ll use it... (more…)
When you teach online, your inbox is always overflowing with student email. And if you don’t check your messages for a day or two, look out! When you do open your email it’s like watching an avalanche coming roaring down a mountainside – straight towards you... (more…)
When you teach online, it’s vital to let your real personality shine through. Authenticity and honesty help to make a genuine connection with your students. It’s a terrible idea to try and be something you’re not. Your students don't want to see a sweaty man in a tight jumpsuit impersonating a legend. (more…)
Every online teacher has a particular superpower. What's yours? Online teaching already involves several non-negotiable core skills. At the very least, you’ll need to be: • Qualified and experienced • A good communicator (and natural mentor) • Technologically-savvy, and • An expert in your field. A genuine passion for online teaching, and a healthy dose of patience also help. That’s not a bad skill set! But there’s one ...
Teaching online for the first time?
This guide will make you look like a professional from your very first class…
Online teachers are often completely invisible.
That means we miss out on a whole world of new opportunities.
Here’s the solution.
Online learning is challenging at the best of times. Students have many demands on their time and energy, and study must be fitted in around those. But a pandemic adds a new level of anxiety and overwhelm to the online study experience. As ...
Maintaining online student engagement is an ongoing challenge. Much has been written on the topic, with a range of innovative suggestions offered, such as gamification, real-time interactive activities, or flipped learning, for example. But there’s also a simpler, more “organic” approach you ...
