Distance Learning Teacher Training
Preparing to become a teacher using Web conferencing software, such as WebEx, Live Meeting or GoToMeeting, typically involves developing skills and experience in managing a training event that contains participants in different locations. Because distance learning teachers usually cannot see their students, they need to take extra care to engage the entire class. By conducting polls, asking specific questions and organizing additional small group sessions, teachers can make learning an enriching experience, not a boring session. Distance learning teacher training enables an instructor to present information as effectively as when in a more traditional classroom setting.
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Features
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Web conferencing software enables educational professionals to create distance-learning environments. This allows educators to provide many new opportunities to students. Teachers and learners have increased access to experts and information. Distance learning teacher training workshops prepare teachers to manage classes made up of students who live in different locations and share diverse backgrounds, allowing for lively exchanges. Both teachers and students get exposed to different environments, cultures, opinions and resources. This diversity promotes cultural understanding, global awareness and international connections. Distance learning provides options for flexible course scheduling, independent study, informal learning and varied communication channels. It can also address barriers of time, distance, physical disabilities, personal and professional responsibilities. Distance learning teacher training features tips and techniques for managing all these factors.
Types
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Distance learning teacher training resources, such as websites and workshops that provide tips and techniques for teaching students from a remote location, feature advice on designing nontraditional courses. Prospective teachers learn how to analyze student needs and write robust learning objectives. Industry organizations, such as the American Distance Education Consortium, provide programs and services, including webcasts, to promote the development and delivery of high-quality, distance-learning courses.
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Benefits
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Distance learning teacher training helps instructors create an online presence both during the virtual classroom sessions and after the course is over by using social media technology, such as wikis, blogs and forums, to create a supportive learning atmosphere for students. Tips and techniques help teachers think of new ways of approaching course content by using multimedia content to make course work relevant to a student's learning objectives as well as engaging and exciting. Additionally, teachers practice how to set expectations, such as encouraging students to shut down other applications and distractions that prevent them from getting the most out of a distance-learning experience. Distance learning teacher training also prepares instructors to prevent information overload by scheduling frequent breaks and including interactive exercises in addition to standard lectures.
Considerations
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Effective distance learning teacher training provides instructors with class-management strategies, policy recommendations and experience using tools to evaluate online student learning. For example, providing an online quiz or game allows the instructor to assess how effective his instruction has been and helps the student determine if he has met his learning objectives. Just as in traditional classroom settings, online students must master the material presented before continuing with more advanced topics. Training prepares instructors to start their sessions smoothly, using icebreakers or short introductions, and conclude sessions by summarizing instructional content and assigning action plans. Distance learning teacher training workshops also usually provide sample policies and procedures documents for handling absences, late assignments and inappropriate behavior, such as rude remarks or belittling comments.
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