How to Be an Effective Online Teacher

The goal should still be to build trusted relationships with students, manage their as well as your time well, and provide support to them whenever they need. 

With around 60% of internet users indulging in online learning and the global elearning market projected to grow to over $240 billion by 2022, it’s obvious for teachers to try to adapt to the new learning territory. Besides, the pandemic seems to be further turning online learning into an ongoing trend, which makes it imperative for teachers to upgrade their skills. 

But the truth is, it is not as easy to impart education as an online teacher as it is to teach students in a brick-and-mortar setting. To be one of the best online teachers, you need not only subject matter expertise, but also creativity, technical skills, understanding of the steep online learning curve, and strong communication skills. 

Ask yourself questions such as:

• Do you find it challenging to teach online? If yes, why and how can you overcome it?
• Do you have the skills it takes for effective online teaching? 
• Are you prepared to be available for students 24X7? 

Answering these questions will help you draw a clear picture of how you should proceed with online teaching. In addition, keep in mind the tips we have curated below to help you improve online teaching strategies. 

Know Your Students

The first thing to take care of is to know who your students are and how they like to learn. Each individual has their own approach to learning and you must design your course to suit their specific needs. Whichever course you choose should motivate your target students to sign up for it. Try to inculcate tasks or milestones as people are more likely to chase deadlines.

Build a Strong Connection 

Work on building trust and connection with your students as it will make the learning process and experience better for them. When your students connect with you, they tend to grab the lessons faster as they don’t hesitate to ask questions. 

So, how do you build trust with your students? 

It’s simple. When giving lessons via video, make sure you keep the camera on and show your face. Tell personal related stories to them when you can and in a manner that does not make anyone feel uncomfortable or inferior. If you are teaching kids, make sure you keep them entertained too.

Follow a Routine 

Keeping someone focused for hours is not easy. This is why you need to create a routine that you as well as your students can follow. A routine helps students keep clear expectations and engage themselves better. To ensure that the routine you created is interesting, try to include an opening and closing activity into your daily classes.

Also, be clear about deadlines and course benefits so that they always come to your class motivated.

Work on Your Tech Skills 

It is no news that an online teacher needs to use technology to give online lessons. So, if you are not already familiar with the technology and tools required for teaching online, make an effort to get comfortable with using them. In fact, make it an aim to stay up-to-date on the latest technology so your students and their parents can trust you with your skills and knowledge. 

Learn how to deliver personalized lessons to students and track their progress. In addition, work on improving your thinking skills and teach students in a creative way. 

Organize Group Projects

In a pandemic-struck world, students rarely get together and talk to each other. But don’t forget that socializing can never get old and is important for people’s well-being and personal growth. Therefore, find a way to help them engage and talk to each other. One way to do this is to arrange group projects that allow students to work together and learn from each other. 

Create a Support Group 

When you taught in a physical classroom, you made sure to support your students anyway you could. As an online teacher, it’s equally important to make them feel comfortable and supported. How? 

Provide language support for the course you provide so that all students can easily grab the lessons. Also, create a support group or discussion forum for students to share their opinions, feedback, or doubts. 

Use Online Resources 

This is one good thing about online teaching. You get enough resources to plan your lessons and you can always choose your favorite resources based on the topic of interest. Most of the resources are available for free, which will save you money as well when planning your course. 

Ask for feedback

After putting in so much of your time and effort to teach students in the best way possible, you need to know how you are doing as an online teacher. So, don’t hesitate to ask your students for feedback. Ask them from time to time whether your lessons are of help to them and if they are able to understand your technique of teaching. 

There’s no harm in making improvements and you should always be open to it. Ask your students where they think you need to improve and then work on those weak areas. If you want to further improve your teaching methods, talk to your students’ parents and see if they have any suggestions for you so that you can implement those in your teaching strategies.

Takeaway

Teachers who are new to the online world are usually of the opinion that becoming an online teacher will save them time. However, it may actually take more time to adapt to the new way of teaching. Though online classes come with their own set of challenges, you can overcome them with the best practice teaching strategies explained above. But don’t forget to use humor and creativity when imparting lessons online. 

Besides, make sure to present yourself with grace when you are having a bad day. It’s your duty to teach students patience and how they should learn things one at a time.