How to Face Online Challenges?

As online learning/teaching is proceeding, many challenges are facing the teachers and students as well. Multiple solutions have been suggested to avoid or reduce the percentages of problems and conflicts as well. Although its truly hard to have 100% control over everything in the learning/teaching process, however its still doable to decrease the chance of having conflicts that may lead to rote learning.

Below are some steps that can be taken into consideration to have a fruitful and successful teaching/learning process.

 1. Help students develop new routines and strategies.

 

Many students who learn and think differently struggle with changes in routine and loss of structure. Help them use this time as an opportunity to develop new strategies to help with focus and learning.

 Depending on the grade you teach, you might also help your students create new routines and schedules that match their strengths. You could even design a lesson around this as a research project or an essay.

 Older students might want to come up with their own strategies to try. Younger students might need more help coming up with strategies and learning how to use them. Have students start by choosing two to three strategies to try. After a week or two, have them evaluate which ones helped and which strategies they want to try next. Possible strategies include:

 Schedule work times and break times.

Set a timer and keep working until it goes off.

Set a goal. For example: I will write one paragraph before I take a break.

Create a checklist.

Work on the hardest or easiest thing first (choose one).

Put your phone in a different room or in your backpack.

Find a quiet space or use headphones to block out noise.

2. Keep the easy part easy

 What might seem like a minor stressor to you can be the difference between whether a student finishes a lesson or not. Adults have more coping strategies than kids do to persist through challenges. Kids and teens are still developing this resiliency.

 Students who learn and think differently have an added layer of difficulty. A student with dyslexia might struggle to understand complex directions. Students with ADHD or executive function issues might find it difficult to break assignments down into manageable chunks. These challenges can cause more frustration and stress that can interrupt the learning process.

 You can help reduce these barriers to learning by using best practices for designing online assignments:

• simplify directions.
• Be consistent in how class materials are organized and presented.

3. Find new ways to meet students' needs.

 For example, accommodations that help with focus in the classroom -- like being seated in the front of the class -- may need to be adjusted for distance learning. Work with students and their families to find creative solutions. Does the student need a daily check-in? Can the student learn how to use self-management strategies like a timer or a goal tracker?

 For online classes, teachers also need to ensure their lessons are accessible. Make sure that materials can be read by a screen reader and that students who use text-to-speech technology know how to use it. Some video-streaming apps like Google Hangouts offer live captioning. Using best practices for online learning like these can help you make sure your lessons are accessible.

 Is your school providing distance learning through printed packets? You may need to be even more creative in how you provide accommodations. For example, if you have a student with dyslexia who needs materials read out loud, you might consider scheduling a call with that student or providing a recording. Brainstorm ideas with your school, the student, and their family to figure out how to meet individual needs.

 

Make sure students understand lessons.

Find out whether students have what they need to do their classwork.

Help students develop learning strategies.

Talk about student accommodations and support.

Better understand students' social-emotional well-being.

Teachers will need to work with their school district and families to figure out the best platform and format for checking in. Keep in mind that families might have a lot going on right now and be unable to respond.