Three Big Ideas

 

Best Practices in Online Teaching

 Please follow the link to watch my voicethread presentation on best practices in online teaching.

 https://voicethread.com/share/22833119/ 

Supporting Struggling Learners: Skill Deficit vs Performance Deficit

 

Participation of students in class provides teachers with valuable information about their students. When students are not participating, it is the responsibility of the teacher to determine why and how to help their students. Some students may be struggling with understanding content while others might lack motivation or interest. The first thing a teacher needs to do is to figure out why the student is not participating, then they can determine how to respond and help the student. The “can’t do/won’t do” assessment is a method many teachers use to determine if a student is unmotivated or suffering from a skill deficit. This assessment method involves offering a highly desired individualized reward before having the student redo a task (without any additional instruction) that they already completed but did not do as well as expected. If the student improves by fifteen percent or more, then motivation is the issue. If they do not improve by at least fifteen percent, they have a skill deficit. Additionally, if a student improves by fifteen percent or more but is still not passing, they are a combination of skill deficit and lack of motivation.

            To support students who may be struggling with the content because of a skill deficit, teachers can employ resources such as supplemental materials, one-on-one instruction, and even peer instruction/tutoring may be beneficial. Additionally, discussing with the child’s family to gain a better understanding of the student could help uncover methods that could help the child understand the content. Try different teaching methods and/or assessment methods, and ask the family to work with their child at home too. If the deficit persists or affects other areas of learning, perhaps discussing with the school counselor/psychologist or the child’s pediatrician may be in order.

            Students that lack motivation may need additional support as well but in a different way than students with a skills deficit. There are numerous reasons why a student could be unmotivated to participate. Perhaps, something is going on in their personal life which is affecting their schoolwork. Maybe the work is too easy, or maybe they are just not interested in the content. To understand how to help motivate the student, communication is critical. First, I would schedule a one-on-one meeting with the student to discuss their thoughts on their performance deficit. If it is a personal issue and the student is comfortable discussing, I would provide them with any resources that could help them. If they are uninterested in the content, finding a way to relate the content to the student and “real life” can be a good motivator. Another general way to motivate students is by instilling a reward for improvement system, however I would not rely on this method as a long-term solution because while it may temporarily motivate students it does not get to the root of the problem and does not increase their intrinsic motivation.

Strategies for Motivating Students Online

 

    Motivating students in an online learning environment can be challenging. However, there are strategies to help keep students motivated. Arguably the most important strategy for maximizing student motivation would be establishing teacher presence. Students will be more engaged with the course when the teacher introduces themselves, models engagement with the course, and communicates with their students regularly through discussion boards, emails, and feedback on assignments. Another key strategy for enhancing motivation is the design of the course, including clear rules, assignment instructions, and deadlines. When a course is organized and is easily accessible students will be motivated to engage with the course content. Socialization strategies are critical in an online setting for keeping students engaged with the course as well. Discussion boards, peer review, and group work are great ways to encourage socialization. Additionally, integrating technology such as video communications will help motivate many students, especially those with extraverted personalities. Lastly, understanding who your students are individually, and building relationships with them will benefit their learning experience and increase their motivation to engage with the course.

    I would use all these strategies as an online instructor. Organization of the course and teacher presence help set the precedent for the structure and function of the course. Setting clear expectations and modeling engagement will show the students that you respect them and in turn they will reciprocate that. By understanding your students and their individual personalities you can incorporate technology and socialization strategies that suit their needs while facilitating their education which will also help build relationships with them.

Online Student Assessment Infographic

 

Nearpod: Benefits, Limitations, and Application

 

Nearpod has many useful tools to assist teachers in lesson planning and student assessments. Teachers can create their own lessons and/or modify any of the premade lessons by adding interactive content to enhance student learning. There are thousands of interactive videos, slides, and games as well as virtual field trips. Nearpod has three different teaching methods including live participation, front of class, and student paced which can all be used for in person, distance learning, or hybrid classes. Also, Nearpod can be integrated with many learning management systems.

Although Nearpod is a helpful tool there are some limitations as well. One example is that there are different package plans and the free version is extremely limited in lesson storage and class log in allowances. Each next level package plan increases in price greatly while only increasing features minimally. Another potential limitation of Nearpod would be access for all students. Many students do not have access to electronic devices consistently and some schools do not have the means to provide every student with their own device for educational purposes. Therefore, teachers would only be able to use the front-of-class method in which they teach the lesson and lead a class discussion much like traditional teaching.

Nearpod has thousands of premade interactive lessons in many content standards which teachers can customize. Also, PowerPoint, Google Slides, PDFs, and videos can be uploaded to Nearpod to create lessons. Formative assessment can be incorporated into lessons. Teachers create interactive slides, videos, and games/activities that keep students engaged while checking their understanding of the content.

VR Technology in Education: ZSpace

     I personally do not have any experience with any VR/AR technology. When I was a K-12 student we took notes with pencils and paper, smart phones did not exist, and we were lucky if we ever got to use a computer or watch a video in school. Technology has greatly advanced in the almost 20 years since I graduated from high school. Luckily in this digital age it is much easier to research unfamiliar concepts such as VR/AR technology. During my research for this blog post, I came across zSpace, which absolutely amazed me. ZSpace is a virtual reality computer system designed for education. The zSpace 3D computer is controlled with a stylus and can be used with or without virtual glasses.

    While zSpace has a plethora of useful educational tools and apps for all ages and education levels including postsecondary education and professional development, this blog post will primarily focus on the K-12 education which has a heavy focus on STEAM topics. ZSpace for K-12 education aligns with curriculum standards while giving students a hands-on learning experience. This technology incorporates a constructivist view of learning as students fully engage with the content and build their own knowledge. Teachers facilitate learning with customizable learning experiences, supports, and resources.

    This tool would be extremely beneficial to all students but especially those that learn best through hands-on experiences rather than lecture style teaching. Zspace can provide its learners with in-depth content on numerous topics that they can inquire, dissect, discover, experiment, and manipulate in ways that would be impossible through traditional teaching methods. All students can gain a deeper understanding of evidence-based instructional content through virtually interacting with their learning topics through 3D graphics.