Teach100 Mentor: Teaching Online
Teaching online: it may be the future, but how are teachers feeling about it now?
From technology use to lesson plan adaptation, shifting from an in person classroom to an online one can require a lot of adjustments. While some teachers love the breadth of opportunities online teaching presents, like access to new locations, subjects, and students they couldn't otherwise reach, others struggle with managing new platforms, reshaping lessons to suit chatrooms instead of classrooms, and doing without that in-person 'je ne sais quoi.'
In honor of "Online Teaching Tuesdays" (our weekly series covering topics in virtual education), we asked Teach100 Mentors: what do you think of teaching online? Would you do it? Have you done it? And if so, would you be okay with internet instruction being the future of education?
Here's what they had to say:
Starr Sackstein, Work in Progress
Have you ever taught online?
- No, but I’ve considered it
What's the number one reason you wouldn't/don't teach online?
- I would miss in-person student bonding
Which kinds of online teaching would you be willing to give a try?
- Virtual K-12, Continuing EdI'd, MOOCs/skills classes (Coursera, Lynda.com, Udemy, Skillshare), Tutoring, Workplace training: I'd definitely try these
How do you envision the lesson plan adaptation to go?
A lot of what works for me in the classroom is my ability to read the room which is a multisensory experience. I fear that if I can't see my students, I will not be able to tell completely if they are getting it or not. However, there are other ways to know and I acknowledge that too.
Are you concerned about online teachers and classrooms replacing traditional, in-person ones?
No, in-person teachers will never be completely phased out as there is a need for those personal connections, and some students really do require the hands on approach and prefer it.
Jennifer Roberts, Lit and Tech
Have you ever taught online?
- Yes, formally (a for-credit program)
What did you think of the experience?
I developed an online course for a MA program at a major university. I "taught" the course the following semester. I found that the actual teaching, or the part I think of as teaching, happened during the course development. During the semester students were taking the course I was more facilitator, grader, and sometimes technical support. They were learning from the materials I created and the articles I selected during the course development, but I was only there to verify that they met course expectations.
Which kinds of online teaching have you tried/would you be willing to give a try?
- Virtual K-12: Not sure/need to learn more
- MOOCs/skills classes (Coursera, Lynda.com, Udemy, Skillshare): Not sure/need to learn more
- Tutoring, Workplace training: I might try these
- Continuing Ed: Never
What's the number one reason you teach online, or would try teaching online?
- No commuting
What's the biggest drawback of teaching online in your opinion?
- It wouldn't replace in-person teaching for me and I don't want to do both
Thinking of your favorite lesson plans and teaching methods, how well have these/would these adapt to an online platform?
I'm used to teaching with a lot of technology, so most of what I do digitally could be converted to an online experience. But the collaboration and discussion between students would be much more difficult, even with advances in video conferencing and collaborative software. (And why is this question not a paragraph space like #2?)
Any concerns about online teachers and classrooms replacing traditional, in-person ones?
Online will not replace K-8 schools. Parents want their students to go to school, if only as child care. Some students may benefit from online 9-12 classes, but only very motivated students can be successful without daily teacher interactions. So, no I'm not terribly worried about online classes replacing traditional classrooms on a grand scale and I think online classes are a great solution for some students taking some courses.
Todd Bloch, Sweat to Inspire
Have you ever taught online?
- No, but considered it
What's the number one reason you wouldn't/don't teach online?
- I’d miss in-person student bonding
Which kinds of online teaching would you be willing to give a try?
- Virtual K-12, Continuing Ed,
- MOOCs/skills classes (Coursera, Lynda.com, Udemy, Skillshare), Tutoring: I'd definitely try these
- Workplace training: I do this already
How do you envision adapting your lesson plans for online?
Online teaching loses the relationships between teacher and students. Teachers can't see the reactions of students to questions, this is where teachers gain insight into students' learning. Teachers won't know what individual students need extra attention. Online presentation of ideas still works similarly to a regular classroom but what happens next is completely different.
Are you concerned about online teachers and classrooms replacing traditional, in-person ones?
I am not concerned about online teachers and classrooms replacing traditional ones. Research shows that online does not produce better results, a blended approach is what works best. Our current students don't know how to work online yet and need to meet regularly with teachers to stay on target. Online methods are good in show the true value of teachers. It is a powerful content delivery tool, just like a book. Have books replaced teachers? Most students always will have the need to have an actual teacher to provide feedback and guidance.
Jeffrey Bradbury, TeacherCast
Have you ever taught online?
- Yes, but not formally (a not for-credit program)
How did it compare to a real-life classroom?
(My website) TeacherCast provides weekly professional development through my online lessons and video podcasts.
Which kinds of online teaching have you tried/would you be willing to give a try?
- Virtual K-12, Continuing Ed, Tutoring, Workplace training: I've done these
- MOOCs/skills classes (Coursera, Lynda.com, Udemy, Skillshare): I'd definitely try it
Why do you teach online?
It's an amazing experience to work with teachers from across the world.
What's the biggest drawback of going virtual?
- The difficulty of adapting lesson plans for online
What’s it like adapting lesson plans for online?
Many of the lesson plans needed to be adapted in some form to create the optimal learning experience for those perhaps learning on a desktop or mobile device.
Any concerns about online teachers and classrooms replacing traditional, in-person ones?
None whatsoever. It would never happen fully.
Ridvan, English in Life
Have you ever taught online?
- Yes, but not formally (a not for-credit program)
What did you think of the experience?
I used skype to teach English last year. It was with one of my old students. It was faster than teaching in a class. However, technical problems were frustrating.
Which kinds of online teaching have you tried/would you be willing to give a try?
- MOOCs/skills classes (Coursera, Lynda.com, Udemy, Skillshare), Tutoring: I've done these.
What's the number one reason you teach online, or would try teaching online?
- I need the extra income (as a second job)
What's the biggest drawback of teaching online in your opinion?
- The difficulty of adapting lesson plans for online
How would you go about doing that?
I get used to observing my students body language during my lessons. While having an online lesson, it is more difficult to do that. Adapting your plan is not easy when something doesn't go on as I plan.
Any concerns about online teachers and classrooms replacing traditional, in-person ones?
It is inevitable that online classrooms will become more popular. I don't have many concerns since I have been preparing myself for it.
Emily, Teacher Stuff
Have you ever taught online?
- No, but I’ve considered it
What's the number one reason you don't teach online?
- Never had the opportunity
Which kinds of online teaching would you be willing to give a try?
- Virtual K-12; Continuing Ed; Tutoring: I might try these
- MOOCs/skills classes (Coursera, Lynda.com, Udemy, Skillshare): Not sure/need to learn more
- Workplace training: I'd definitely try this
What might be lost in translation if you were to try to teach them online?
The hands-on aspect.
Are you concerned about online teachers and classrooms replacing traditional, in-person ones?
I'm not really because there are many different learning styles. Some people will always prefer in-person and some will always prefer virtual.
Carissa Peck, mELTing Teacher
Have you ever taught online?
- Yes, but not formally (a not for-credit program)
Which kinds of online teaching have you tried/would you be willing to give a try?
- Virtual K-12; Continuing Ed; Tutoring; Workplace training: I might try these
- MOOCs/skills classes (Coursera, Lynda.com, Udemy, Skillshare): I've done this
What's the number one reason you teach online?
- [It gave me] the opportunity to teach at a school/teach a subject otherwise inaccessible to me.
What's the biggest drawback of teaching online in your opinion?
- It wouldn't replace in-person teaching for me and I don't want to do both.
How would you adapt your lesson plans?
Many of my activities could be done online, but the silliness that brings a class together would be lost. Having students fight zombies together just didn't the same online, nor is it the same to have students video them flushing the toilet.
Any concerns about online teachers and classrooms replacing traditional, in-person ones?
It really depends on the student and the subject. I just finished a linguistic course onlIne, and I loved it, but it is a topic I am already quite familiar with and that I enjoy. If it were something I struggled with, I am not sure I would still be able to enjoy it as much.
Ross Parker, RossParker.org
Have you ever taught online?
- Yes, formally (a for-credit program)
What did you think of the experience?
My current secondary/high school ICT programme is a blended combination of traditional classroom and online learning, based on a pedagogy called Free Learning. Students come to class as normal, but they choose their own learning path through an online environment, and can learn outside of class in the same way as they learn in class. This is far from a MOOC, and occurs in a bricks and mortar school, but is still online learning. Our teachers also undertake professional development using Free Learning, but with much more focus on virtual learning, powered by GorillaPD.
Which kinds of online teaching have you tried/would you be willing to give a try?
- MOOCs/skills classes (Coursera, Lynda.com, Udemy, Skillshare): I'd definitely try it
- Continuing Ed; Tutoring: Not sure/need to learn more
- Virtual K-12, Workplace training: I've done these
What's the number one reason you teach online, or would try teaching online?
It allows me to deliver the ultimate in highly motivating, differentiated, personalised learning to meet the interests and needs of my students.
What's the biggest drawback of teaching online in your opinion?
There is a risk that some might use what I do to replace the vital student-teacher bond, and social environment, which would be a grave mistake, given the age of my students.
Thinking of your favorite lesson plans and teaching methods, how well do these adapt to an online platform?
Very well, as I am still there to deliver certain parts in person, but students are also encouraged to become independent. The best part is that students who don't need my input don't need to listen to me, and I have more free time to work with the students who do need my input.
Any concerns about online teachers and classrooms replacing traditional, in-person ones?
Absolutely, because high tech is big business, automation is the flavour of the week and economics is king. However, what policy makers generally fail to understand, and what would making the replacement of schools a terrible idea, is that the value of teachers is not merely in the content they deliver, but rather in the relationships, values and role modelling that they offer.
Angela Culley, Math Ninja
Have you ever taught online?
- Yes, but not formally (a not-for-credit program)
What type of teaching do you do?
I teach a course online helping people learn how to tutor online. I also tutor math online.
Which kinds of online teaching have you tried/would you be willing to give a try?
- Virtual K-12; Continuing Ed: I'd definitely try these
- MOOCs/skills classes (Coursera, Lynda.com, Udemy, Skillshare); Tutoring; Workplace training: I've done these
What's the number one reason you teach online?
- It’s more flexible than my current job (as a full-time job)
What's the biggest drawback of teaching online in your opinion?
- The difficulty of working with the technology
How well have your favorite lesson plans adapted?
I have found that most in-person lessons can be modified and used for online instruction. Even things like hands-on math manipulatives can be used with online instruction!
Any concerns about online teachers and classrooms replacing traditional, in-person ones?
No, I think that having options helps us to better meet the needs of all students.
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