Tips on Teaching High School Online
Instruction in a classroom is different from teaching via the Internet because it requires a different type of skill, form of communication and technique to accommodate high school web learners. Flexibility is essential in the online learning environment. Teachers must be flexible with their teaching styles, and, though it is not much different in the brick and mortar learning institutions, it is a vital element in web education.
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Icebreaker
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The first session of the first day can cause anxiety for the online high school student, so it is a good practice to have an icebreaker opening. As the teacher, you have a better opportunity to get a glimpse into each of your students' personalities right from the start by asking them to upload a post about themselves. For example, one icebreaker is to ask students to share one of their silliest moments on a vacation. If they cannot think of a particular incident, you can ask them to share an experience from their last vacation. Perhaps they would like to share where they would like to visit most if they have not gone on a recent vacation.
Provide Regular Outcome Expectations
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More so in the online learning environment, it is important to make sure your students understand the desired outcome for each semester. A syllabus serves as a written reminder of the appropriate expectations. It is an important online tool because you may not have an opportunity to actively check on your high school students' progress on a daily basis the way you normally would if you were teaching in a physical classroom environment. It is best to reiterate on a weekly basis through email communication what the weekly milestones or goals are. You cannot make sure your students are following the daily guideline, but giving them the proper tools to help them stay on track is valuable.
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Time Management
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The best online courses move swiftly. Many high school students enroll online for accelerated courses so they are allowed to move through the educational system quicker and move on to college courses as soon as possible. This makes time management skills paramount. Though flexibility is an added benefit to high school learning, the student should be educated concerning time constraints and deadlines to adapt effectively in the workplace upon graduation. Though good time management is essential to the online high school learner, they need to be allowed to adjust their study schedules in the event of unexpected circumstances.
Use of Textbooks
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Though it is an easy choice and financially economical to use electronic media to teach high school students, it is important to utilize bound textbooks. The textbook can be carried anywhere the student chooses to study. Access to wireless Internet hot spots are not always available and can cost a student valuable time from missed study opportunities when they do not have access to the text they are required to study. It is also a good idea to offer alternate forms of quizzes for your students. Mailing a paper document for grading may not be the best option, but, for students with access to a scanner, it is a good option for when their computer crashes or they have limited access to a computer for a short time.
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