Although the fundamentals are essentially the same, online instruction demands different teaching strategies than traditional classrooms. If you’ve been mentoring your students remotely and are concerned about their levels of engagement or productivity, you can find some tips for improving your methods below. 

How to Improve Your Online Instruction

1. Make Lessons Available On Demand

Recording your lectures and giving students access to them on demand will boost engagement. Depending on your district’s requirements, you may have to host lessons at a certain time every day. By granting students access to these lectures after conducting them, you’re allowing them to go back and review the lessons at their own pace, ensuring total comprehension. 

2. Have Students Work Together 

Assigning projects that require students to collaborate with one another will foster communication, diplomacy, and problem-solving skills. It will also free up your schedule since you’ll have fewer assignments to grade.

Have your students create presentations together or cowrite essays. This will let them get to know their classmates and enjoy a more immersive learning experience.

3. Establish Boundaries 

Remaining accessible 24/7 is a surefire way to get burned out. It will also encourage your students to reach out at the last possible moment whenever they have an issue instead of addressing any concerns proactively. This will inevitably lead to late or missed assignments, and offering extra credit to help those students will merely mean more work for you.

It’s important to establish boundaries at the start of each semester. While your students can certainly email you at any time of day, they shouldn’t expect a response until your designated office hours have started. 

For more effective teaching strategies and additional resources on online instruction, turn to Encouraging Champions Consulting Firm. Operating out of Seven Springs, NC, this organization serves students, teachers, and administrators across the state. Backed by more than 20 years of experience, they provide leadership training, consulting services, and curriculum advice. To learn about owner Dr. Elondra D. Napper, visit the website. To discuss your needs, call (757) 633-3436.