Best Practices for Teaching with Video Conferencing

Online teaching with video conferencing has become the new normal since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. With no end in sight, educators need effective strategies to ensure their students are learning and engaged during virtual classes. In this blog post, we will explore some of the best practices for teaching with video conferencing.

Set up the Right Environment

The environment plays a critical role in remote learning. It is essential to create a comfortable and distraction-free environment to facilitate learning. Ensure that the lighting is adequate, and the room is quiet. You can use a background or virtual background to create a professional and consistent appearance for your virtual class.

Engage Your Students

Engagement is crucial in keeping students interested in online classes. Try to design interactive sessions that encourage student participation. Use polls, quizzes, and breakout rooms to create collaborative learning environments. Encourage students to ask questions and provide feedback. Use video conferencing tools like ClassPoint to facilitate more interactive learning experiences.

Plan Your Lessons

Careful lesson planning is vital in remote learning. Unlike in-person classes where you can quickly adjust to the situation, online teaching requires a more structured approach. Plan your lessons well in advance and share them with students. This will ensure that students have adequate time to prepare and can review the material afterward. Use video conferencing tools like Loom or Screencast-O-Matic to record short videos to supplement your class materials.

Show Empathy

Virtual learning environments can be isolating, particularly for students who are used to classroom learning. As an educator, you can act as a source of support and motivation for your students in these challenging times. Show empathy and communicate effectively with students who may be struggling with the transition to online learning.

Practice Good Communication

Good communication is essential in remote learning environments. Use clear language and concise instructions. Provide students with effective feedback on their work and identify areas where they can improve. Be as responsive as possible to emails and messages from students to avoid confusion or misunderstandings.

Real-Life Examples

Teacher Rebecca, who faced an extremely challenging situation when transitioning to online teaching, had to adapt to the new normal and found that using video conferencing tools like Zoom helped her keep her students engaged with interactive lessons, breakout rooms, and collaborative activities.

Student Jamie, who had a difficult time learning remotely, found that her teacher’s use of video conferencing tools like ClassPoint helped her stay engaged with interactive polls, quizzes, and gamification. She felt proactive and entertained and better able to absorb learning material.

In Summary

Online teaching with video conferencing is an effective way of engaging students and maintaining academic continuity during difficult times. To achieve success, educators must optimize their teaching strategies with the right technology and setting an environment that encourages interactive and collaborative learning. With these best practices, students can continue their studies successfully and institutions can continue to deliver quality education even during disruption, resulting in a more sustainable future for online teaching with video conferencing.