10 Ways Teachers Can Improve Their Elearning Course
The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way people learn and work. Many people are now working from home, and with in-person classes canceled in many parts of the world, many students are turning to elearning courses.
Online resources have been nothing but a huge leap into the future. There have been countless advantages to elearning courses, such as the ability to learn at your own pace and repeating/replaying difficult lessons as many times as needed.
Moreover, there’s no need to commute for morning classes, no rush, and no school uniform needed. Basically, it’s what most people dream of when attending school. In addition, technology makes it possible to register, participate in a class, and even graduate without physically being there.
While it comes with a huge benefit, the same technology also hinders some students from getting the most out of their education. In this article, we’re going to explore some of the problems of elearning, and how to improve your elearning courses.
Problems that Occurs in Elearning Courses
Some people take technology for granted. With how easy it is to join online courses, most students still find it a little challenging to participate in classes. As a teacher, you’ve probably seen many troubles in day-to-day school life before this whole new online education era. The problems are still there but presented through the live streaming session.
Not paying attention in classes, engaging in side talks with other classmates, or playfully tricking teachers are some examples of how students abuse their freedom in online courses. In addition to that, other issues like technical difficulties–such as low internet speed or sudden power outages–can also interrupt classes and disrupt the learning process.
If this happens in your elearning course, then it won’t go well both for you and your students. They won’t be able to digest the material needed for their study, and you may lose some points (and morale) as you fail to teach them.
But there are ways that teachers can improve their elearning courses to make sure that all students, regardless of their location, get the most out of it.
10 Ways Teachers Can Improve Their Elearning Courses
If you are a teacher who is looking to create or improve an elearning course, here are ten ways you can do so.
1. Connect with Students Individually
One way to prevent students from abusing their freedom in an online class is to establish a communication policy at the beginning of the semester. This will help remind them of the behavior that is expected of them during the online session and will help reduce distractions.
You can deliver such messages more effectively if you can connect with students individually. Students who have no interest in the subject may not receive the message nor reflect on them from the beginning. They will think of the class as nothing but an obligation; this is why communication between the teacher and the students is important to minimize such problems in online classes.
The most common problem when teaching elearning courses is that very few students are paying attention. To solve this, you can ask them to use a webcam during class. This helps you see their expressions and make sure they are not dozing off or surfing the internet instead of paying attention to the lesson.
2. Use a Learning Management System (LMS) and Other Elearning Tools
A learning management system (LMS) can help you keep track of your students’ progress and identify any problems they might be having. It also provides a space for students to ask questions and for you to provide feedback.
Choose the right tools for the task. There are many different elearning platforms and tools available, so find one that fits your needs. A good elearning management system can help you teach students in a better way and make them learn more effectively.
Make sure to use various technology options to avoid boredom and give variations to the lesson. For example, if you teach Biology, the best way to get your students’ attention is to play an explainer video about molecular systems. Videos help make your lesson more entertaining as they contain visual content that sparks curiosity.
As a video conferencing-based study is common in remote teaching, you can level up your session by inducing fun activities that require them to keep their cameras on. This will help in keeping your students engaged.
3. Create Multiple Online Course Modules
When creating online course modules, you should keep in mind the different academic levels of the students taking your course. Some students may be more advanced than others, and some may have no previous experience with the subject matter.
Be sure to include a variety of activities and assignments in your modules that will challenge all students. You can also create assignments that are different in difficulty levels so that more advanced students can be challenged and less advanced students can still learn the material.
You can also create quizzes and tests using interactive ebook creators to help assess students’ understanding of the material. You can also use forums and discussion boards to get feedback from your students and help them learn from each other.
4. Use Multimedia and Game-Based Learning
Multimedia and game-based learning can be a fun and effective way to engage students in your course. Games can help students learn more quickly and retain information longer.
Including multimedia in your modules can also help keep students engaged. You can use images, videos, audio clips, and infographics to supplement your lessons. Just be sure to choose a multimedia format that is relevant to the topic you are teaching.
For example, if you want to teach about the Civil War, you can use an explainer video about the Battle of Gettysburg.
5. Design Interactive Quizzes and Exercises
Assignments that require critical thinking will help students develop problem-solving skills and analytical thinking. These types of assignments also force students to research and analyze information on their own. You can also use open-ended questions to get students to think critically about your teaching material.
However, make sure that these quizzes don’t take a long time; keeping them in problem-solving modes for 2 hours straight will only push them away from learning the material. You need to provide different types of learning to keep them engaged.
Make sure that the quizzes you present are as fun as possible. Use online resources, such as Kahoot!, to make your quiz more interactive. Kahoot! is a game-based learning platform that allows you to create quizzes and play them with your students. It’s a fun and easy way to assess students’ understanding of the material.
6. Utilize Social Media Platforms
It’s hard to exclude the power of social media platforms from elearning courses these days. You can use social media platforms to improve your elearning courses. You can use them to make class announcements, communicate with your students, or share interesting content related to the course material.
You can also ask your students to tweet or post about their experiences in your class by using a hashtag that you create. This will help build a community of students interested in the course material and attract new students to join your class.
7. Encourage Collaboration among Students
Collaboration among students can help them learn from each other and understand the material better. You can encourage collaboration by setting up forums or discussion boards where students can share their thoughts and ideas.
You can also have group assignments where students work together to solve a problem or create a project. This will help them learn how to work together and communicate effectively. By encouraging collaboration, you can help your student develop teamwork skills and social skills.
8. Assign Homework and Provide Feedback
One of the best ways to help students learn is to assign homework and provide feedback. Homework can help students practice what they have learned in class and can help them understand the material better.
When providing feedback, be sure to give students specific comments on what they did well and what they need to work on. This will help them improve their understanding of the material and their skills.
However, try to make it two-way feedback; you can give students feedback on their homework, whereas they can share their thoughts on your teaching. Asking for students’ feedback is essential for you to know whether you’ve conducted the lesson well and to find what is missing or what needs to be improved.
When you let your students share their opinion on your teaching methods, you’ve taught them to be critical thinkers by communicating their thoughts in a good way. Students will also feel like their voices are heard and that their opinion matters. This will boost their confidence in class.
9. Communicate with Parents
If your students are young, it’s crucial to have a meeting with their parents prior to the class. Communicating with parents may sound traditional, especially in the new era of elearning courses. However, it’s still an effective way to let them know what their children are learning and how they’re performing in class.
You can communicate with parents through email or even have a meeting with them in person. And make sure to schedule the meeting at a time that is convenient to them.
When communicating with parents, make sure to send them the course syllabus, the homework assignments, and the assessment criteria. This will help them understand your teaching method and your expectations for their children.
10. Consider New Learning Methods
Last but not least, you may consider using new learning methods in your class. There are many new learning methods that you can use, such as gamification, simulations, and virtual reality. Using these methods can help you keep your students interested in the class material and learn better.
When using new learning methods, be sure to test them out first to see if they are effective. And always keep in mind that not all students learn the same way. So, you may have to try out a few different methods before finding one that works best for your class.
For example, you can use 3D simulation apps and tools to show students some real-life experiences and experiments. This can be useful in many courses: from biology to social sciences.
Wrapping Up
Elearning courses have become more in demand these days, and if you are teaching from a distance, you need a strategy to attract more students to join your classes. Improving the way you teach elearning courses will help you engage with your students, grab their attention, and have parents trust your work.
Use the tips mentioned in this article to help you create an effective elearning course that your students will enjoy and learn from. Remember to be patient and never give up on your students. By using these tips, you can help your students achieve success in their classes.
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