Key points:
If the past few years have taught educators anything, it's that teachers don't necessarily need to be in a physical classroom with kids sitting around to be effective. Instead, with the right environment, tools, and technology, teachers can work from home and still give students the full educational experience without missing a beat.
In fact, remote classroom strategies have many benefits for districts and the teaching world at large, including helping to address teacher shortages and creating engaging atmospheres for students.
There are several strategies you can use to create the perfect home classroom that is both attractive and functional. Here are some tips and steps to get you started.
Choosing the right location
The first step to creating the ideal home classroom is choosing a professional and organized space. You can try to find a room with wall space where you can hang charts and artwork to give it a more personal touch and provide a classroom-like background. Whatever space you choose, remember that you don't have to stay there all day. You can move into the kitchen for cooking sessions, go outside for nature lessons, or whatever else suits you.
One of the best design ideas when choosing a room is to look for a space with plenty of natural light. Whether in person or through a screen, natural light is great for your mental well-being and that of your students. Sunlight also helps release serotonin in your body, which can help prevent depression. A bright environment can also help your children focus. Set up your classroom in the living room, a spare room, or another location with windows and you could also save money on your monthly energy bill by turning off the lights.
Teaching tools
Implementing smart technology tools is essential when you need to translate your lesson plans to a computer or tablet screen.
A online whiteboard Whiteboarding is an essential piece of technology because it can be an incredible resource. Depending on the program, you can use your whiteboard to brainstorm ideas for your next lesson. The ability to create notes and move or delete them with the push of a button makes it easy to stay organized. Many whiteboards also allow you to work online with other collaborators and teachers in real time and get instant feedback. You can also implement external programs like Google Drive, to have all of your files in one place.
Combine your whiteboard with other organizational tools, such as the Hapara program, which allows you to keep your assignments and slides in order while creating new content for the course. There's also the Bloomz app, which helps keep files in order and seamlessly connect with parents.
There are also plenty of games that allow students to play and learn on the computer. Programs like Prodigy Math Game help kids stay engaged while learning essential arithmetic lessons. Also, check out National Geographic Kids to find fun digital games that will teach them about the world.
Of course, one last piece of technology you should have is a good video conferencing program, such as Google Classroom or Zoom. They allow you to talk to the class and interact through chat and other features.
Look and sound your best
While you want school to be interesting and fun, you also need to be professional in your remote presentation. Turn on and test your camera and computer before each school day to make sure you can start each lesson without any issues.
In addition to being seen, you also want to be heard. Invest in a high-quality microphone that will allow your students to hear you without any problems so that your voice is clear and crisp. Consider a dynamic microphone, which is less sensitive and less capable of picking up distracting sounds in the room that shouldn't be heard. If you're a teacher who moves around a lot or is expressive with your hands, opt for a lapel microphone, which clips to your outfit so you're always heard without any problems.
There may be many elements that go into designing the ideal remote classroom, but taking the time to properly design can result in a better experience for you and your students.
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