COVID-19 has prompted many school boards to embrace remote learning to protect the health and safety of teachers, staff, and students. For thousands of teachers, the virtual learning environment is unfamiliar. This guide covers remote learning tips and strategies in detail to help educators plan and execute a successful transition to online learning.
Online learning quickly caught on as a solution to logistical challenges posed by the pandemic. According to Gallup polling data, 65% of parents said their children engaged with online learning in March 2020. That figure spiked to 83% in a matter of weeks, and by May 2020, as many as 99% of American teachers were engaging their students in distance learning, according to a RAND Corporation survey.
Some U.S. schools plan to reopen as usual in the fall of 2020, while others intend to offer online-only classes for at least part of the 2020-21 school year. In most cases, schools that decided to stick with virtual learning also adopted specific online educational platforms for their teachers to use. Educators must adhere to administrative guidance on how to deploy these online methods correctly, safely, and effectively.
To that end, teachers with reliable online teaching strategies are best equipped to successfully engage their students. The resources provided here offer insights into how to teach remotely without sacrificing educational integrity.
Common Remote Learning Challenges Faced by Teachers
Meet the Expert
Carolyn Parker
Carolyn Parker is the director of the master of arts in teaching program and a senior professional lecturer in the school of education at American University.
Caroline Parker, director of the master of arts in teaching program at American University, helped us outline some of the challenges of remote learning, which may include:
A Sense of Isolation Among Students: Most elementary and secondary students have little to no prior experience with online learning. For many, the sudden, abrupt shift to distance-based platforms coincided with increasing senses of isolation and disconnectedness. Social aspects of the traditional school environment offer immense value and remain difficult to replicate in digital spaces.
Lack of Motivation: Isolation from peers and a lack of in-person accountability can evolve into a loss of motivation among students.
Challenges Assessing Student Learning: This issue particularly applies to younger students learning crucial skills like letter and number formation, sentence-writing, and paragraph-writing. Many educators find it particularly difficult to monitor learners' progress with these types of skills in online environments.
Technical Problems: Teachers may experience problems with their online learning platforms, while students learning from home sometimes face connectivity issues. In some cases, class members may lack home-based internet access, creating further obstacles. Parker called access challenges "a serious equity issue," saying, "I think with careful planning at the societal and district level, issues of access can be diminished, but not entirely eliminated."
Difficulties Keeping Students Engaged: "Classroom management strategies that are exacerbated with remote learning are student attendance and engagement," Parker said. Home environments come with lots of distractions, especially for young people who spend their entire day online with little direct supervision, if any. Thus, educators need dynamic, effective ways to keep students' attention focused on virtual learning.
Teachers must apply foresight and planning to anticipate and overcome these challenges and others that may arise. Fortunately, educators who know how to teach online can offer a multitude of experience-based insights.
Online Teaching Tips By Platform
Teachers seeking ways to overcome the unique challenges of the virtual classroom can start by learning their school's online teaching platform. Begin this process by carefully reviewing the platform-specific safety and privacy guidelines issued by school administrators. Create a strong understanding of your school's platform, and become as proficient in it as possible. Moreover, review the information in the subsections below, which cover several of the most popular and widely used virtual teaching tools.
How to Use Zoom to Teach Online
As the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the U.S., Zoom quickly emerged as the platform of choice for many schools that moved online. Headquartered in the Silicon Valley area, Zoom traces its history to 2011. Its creators launched the first version of the platform in 2013.
Zoom exploded in popularity after hundreds of thousands of schools closed in the wake of COVID-19. Since April 2020, Zoom has released dozens of software updates intended to improve the platform's strong utility as a replacement for the traditional classroom.
While some privacy and security controversies have overshadowed this success, teachers generally approve of Zoom. In one EdWeek Market Brief teacher survey, most respondents said that live video conferencing tools like Zoom were "very effective" for teaching math and language arts to students learning from home during the pandemic.
Key Features
| Feature | Y/N | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated Calendar Scheduling | Google Calendar, Microsoft Outlook, Skype, HipChat, Appointlet | |
| Personal Meeting Rooms | Users obtain ongoing access to personal Zoom meeting rooms by submitting a unique digital ID or following an authorized link | |
| Wait Rooms | Zoom supports customized logos, titles, descriptions, and wait room messages | |
| Password-Protected Rooms | Zoom uses passcode-based credentials | |
| Ability to Lock the Room | ||
| Co-Host Ability | No limit on the number of co-hosts, but the main host must designate them | |
| Specialized Host Powers | Hosts retain precision control over participant management, recording, streaming, and many other features | |
| Automatic Attendance | Zoom automatically logs attendance, but hosts must request attendance reports manually | |
| Recording | ||
| Private Chats | Hosts do not have access to users' private chats | |
| Group Chats | ||
| Chat Logs | Zoom can log chats, but teachers/hosts/co-hosts cannot access private chat logs between participants | |
| Transcription | Generated as .vtt text files | |
| Mute All Control | ||
| Video Mute Control | Hosts and co-hosts can stop or start video streaming for some or all participants | |
| Screenshare | Teachers and students both have the ability to share their screens | |
| Whiteboard | Hosts can open or restrict access to the whiteboard among participants Users with access to the whiteboard have "annotating" privileges | |
| Breakout Rooms | Teachers can join, edit, and move between up to 50 separate breakout rooms | |
| Reactions | Clapping, thumbs-up, heart, tears of joy, open mouth (surprise), party popper (celebration) | |
| Polls or Quizzes | Zoom supports poll and Q&A formats Both planned and "pop" tests and quizzes are available | |
| Custom Backgrounds | ||
| View Options | Zoom offers three standard views: Speaker, Thumbnail, and Gallery |
Techy Tips
Zoom's Training Resources
Teachers can access the following training resources directly on the Zoom website:
Live training webinars (available daily)
Best practices, tips, and resources for hosting virtual meetings and webinars
They can also access support services specifically designed for the COVID-19 pandemic, refer to these Top 20 Zoom resources, and use the Zoom Training Center FAQ page to learn more about how to use Zoom for online teaching.
How to Teach Remotely Using Google Meet
Developed by Silicon Valley giant Alphabet through its flagship Google company, Google Meet launched in 2017. Anyone with a Google account enjoys access to the service, which supports online, video-based meetings for up to 100 people.
This platform's free version normally limits meetings to 60 minutes, but Google has enabled conferences of up to 24 hours through September 2020 at minimum. Schools can also access two paid versions — G Suite Essentials and G Suite Enterprise Essentials — which offer more features. Teachers praise Google Meet's intuitive setup, but many note that it lacks some of its competitors' features.
Key Features
| Feature | Y/N | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated Calendar Scheduling | Supports Google Calendar integrations | |
| Personal Meeting Rooms | ||
| Wait Rooms | ||
| Password-Protected Rooms | Free and paid versions of the platform both use two-step authentication | |
| Ability to Lock the Room | Hosts can remove participants but Google Meet does not currently offer a "lock the room" function | |
| Co-Host Ability | Google Meet does not currently allow display configurations to show multiple hosts | |
| Specialized Host Powers | Hosts can mute participants and remove participants from rooms to prevent disruptions | |
| Automatic Attendance | Google plans to roll out this feature with G Suite Enterprise for Education in October 2020 A Google Meet Attendance extension for Google Chrome is already available | |
| Recording | Recordings automatically save to Google Drive with G Suite Enterprise versions of the platform | |
| Private Chats | ||
| Group Chats | ||
| Chat Logs | Google Meet does not allow users or hosts to export chat logs | |
| Transcription | Users require a third-party service to generate and access text transcripts | |
| Mute All Control | Reportedly under development as of June 2020 | |
| Video Mute Control | ||
| Screenshare | Users and hosts cannot interact with shared screens as of August 2020 | |
| Whiteboard | Available through the Google Jamboard extension | |
| Breakout Rooms | Reportedly under development as of July 2020 for inclusion in a future release | |
| Reactions | Available through browser extensions, such as Nod for Google Chrome | |
| Polls or Quizzes | ||
| Custom Backgrounds | ||
| View Options | Grid view, tile view |
Techy Tips
Google's Training Resources
For more tips on how to teach online classes with Google Meet, and for further assistance, try these resources:
How to Teach Online Classes Using Microsoft Teams
Launched globally in March 2017, Microsoft Teams gives teachers and students free access to a powerful collaborative-learning platform. Educators need only enter a valid school email address to get started with the software. Microsoft Teams also offers compatibility with desktop computers, iOS and Android devices, laptops, and tablets.
Microsoft Teams earned accolades for its user-friendly access to a complete toolset and excellent chat features. Complaints generally focus on the platform's inefficient consumption of storage space and limited flexibility.
| Feature | Y/N | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated Calendar Scheduling | Requires Microsoft Outlook for seamless compatibility | |
| Personal Meeting Rooms | ||
| Wait Rooms | Available through "Lobby" setting | |
| Password-Protected Rooms | As a workaround, teachers can configure meetings to direct new participants to the "Lobby" for manual admission or denial of entry | |
| Ability to Lock the Room | Available through the "Teams Admin Center" feature | |
| Co-Host Ability | Meeting creators must specify a co-host when setting a new meeting, which gives the co-host moderator permissions in the creator's absence | |
| Specialized Host Powers | Microsoft Teams allows creators to designate themselves or others to various roles with different administrative and moderation powers | |
| Automatic Attendance | Available via the Attendance app on the Teams for Education platform | |
| Recording | ||
| Private Chats | ||
| Group Chats | Launch group chats by adding individual participants to private chats | |
| Chat Logs | Microsoft Teams retains chat logs and makes them available for subsequent viewing for up to 30 days | |
| Transcription | Available through the "Teams Admin Center" feature | |
| Mute All Control | ||
| Video Mute Control | Administrators can mute the video feeds of incoming meeting participants | |
| Screenshare | ||
| Whiteboard | Available via the Microsoft Whiteboard app extension | |
| Breakout Rooms | ||
| Reactions | Basic emojis available | |
| Polls or Quizzes | Teachers can use an extended poll format to create a multi-question quiz | |
| Custom Backgrounds | Options available here Users can also download backgrounds of their choice to their devices, then import them to Microsoft Teams | |
| View Options | Main options include Gallery View and Speaker View |
Techy Tips
Microsoft's Training Resources
Microsoft offers extensive resources to teachers seeking to improve their familiarity and proficiency with the Teams platform:
Resources for Other Video Conferencing Platforms
While Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams continue to gain widespread popularity during COVID-19 school shutdowns, educators also have many other valid, capable platforms available to them, like Skype. GoToMeeting, Webex, and Blackboard Connect.
Microsoft's Skype platform supports a long list of free education applications, making it a viable option for budget-conscious school boards. GoToMeeting supports sessions for up to 250 people and offers specialized versions of their software for teachers and educators.
Cisco's Webex represents another powerful alternative. Teachers using other platforms can switch to Webex or learn more about its virtual classroom features and capabilities. Blackboard enjoys robust adoption rates in higher education settings, but the platform also offers feature-rich, specialized K-12 versions.
No matter what software you're using, Parker recommends making your workspace as comfortable as possible — especially because many teachers report feeling like they're working 24/7 once their homes become their classrooms. "A comfortable place is key," Parker said. "Choose a quiet place with a door, so that when the workday is done, you can close the door and leave work."
Best Practices for Online Teaching
Teachers spend years honing their classroom management and instructional proficiencies, and many tried-and-true strategies, techniques, and approaches still apply to the virtual classroom. However, online teaching also presents unique challenges and considerations, so adding some specialized remote-learning tips to your toolbox can assist in a smooth, productive transition.
As Parker noted:
"I think one of the greatest challenges that I have faced with all-remote teaching is Zoom fatigue — looking at a computer screen all day. Because of this, I think that it is important to take breaks to get up and move and do something non-screen related."
Consider the following online teaching ideas and remote learning tips to help you keep your lessons fresh and energetic as the day goes on:
Simplify Your Curriculum
Review your curriculum, identify critical skills and concepts, and prioritize them in lessons. A simplified approach helps learners succeed, and it also helps create and maintain engagement.
Use Media-Rich Platform Features to Your Advantage
Music, animations, and video can all enhance the online learning experience, and they help keep learners focused on the session when moving between lessons or subjects.
Mix Your Learning Formats
Help keep boredom at bay by mixing up learning and lesson formats. Include games and challenges to keep learning fun, especially later in the day.
Make Learning Resources Readily Available
Use live hyperlinks to keep learners active during classroom sessions. Make sure teaching resources introduced in lessons remain accessible to students outside of class so they can easily revisit class content.
Show Your Face
Some teachers overuse slides, graphics, images, videos, and whiteboards. Remember: Showing your face has a subtle but powerful psychological effect, keeping students connected to you and their peers.
Reteach Concepts that Failed to Land
Pay attention to academic performance and evaluated learning assessments. If a large number of students seemed not to grasp a particular lesson, reteach it using a different format or strategy.
Parker also suggested methods of assessing students in Zoom breakout rooms: "When you use Zoom breakout rooms, drop in on mute and your camera off as a means of assessment," she said. "If students 'see' and 'hear' the teacher drop in, it disrupts their discussion. Turn your camera and sound off, which will allow you to better assess the students."
The subsections below offer additional, level-specific online teaching tips for elementary, middle school, high school, and postsecondary instructors.
Online Education as a Student Teacher
Student teachers face extra challenges in the COVID-19 educational landscape. Many colleges have moved their classes online, forcing teaching candidates to adapt to both virtual learning and virtual teaching simultaneously.
Many student-teachers have moved away from functioning as a supplementary classroom presence, now embracing roles in lesson-planning and technical support. Since most current student-teachers grew up as digital natives, they can be a vital resource for educators with lower levels of tech literacy.
To explore additional remote-learning tips for student-teachers, check out our special online education guides for emerging educators:
Applying Remote Learning Tips to Your Classroom
COVID-19 has forced dramatic changes to education, but it has also inspired a great deal of innovation and creativity. By integrating and applying remote-learning tips specific to student grade levels, teachers can deliver valuable, positive learning experiences, promoting much-needed stability and optimism during these uncertain times.
Finally, keep Parker's uplifting observation in mind:
"Take it one day at a time. This is a time for flexible rigor. We are in the midst of a global pandemic, and we need to have expectations, but [understand] that everyone's situation is uniquely challenging. We must be kind to one another."
Teaching Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Distance learning experts recommend setting up a learning station with a comfortable chair, an ergonomic computer and desk configuration, and noise-canceling headphones, if available. Reliable broadband internet access is another must-have.
Additional Online Resources for Teachers
Best Practices for Teaching Online (Arizona State University)
Best Practices: Online Pedagogy (Harvard University)
10 Principles of Effective Online Teaching (Faculty Focus)
Best Practices in Online Teaching, and more (The Wabash Center)
8 Best Online Teaching Sites that Will Inspire You (AIST Global)
Best Practices in Online Teaching Strategies (Hanover Research Council)
NEA Guide to Teaching Online Courses (National Education Association)
Evaluation of Evidence-Based Practices in Online Learning (U.S. Department of Education)