Page 36 - OSA VC Teacher's Guide

VC TEACHER’S GUIDE

AN INTRODUCTION TO VC TEACHING FOR ONESCHOOL STAFF

3. Establish routines and consistency

As is the case with any teaching and learning environment, establishing consistent routines and expectations
creates a safe and effective ‘classroom’. Online Learning experiences should be clearly structured around
syllabus content through the creation of yearly outlines and course plans. Daily and weekly routines
communicate an ordered and confident environment that in turn creates confidence in the students.
• Create a weekly routine of work on Canvas and don’t surprise students with new work ‘mid-week’.
(Not always possible)
• Students need some guidance in ‘what to do and when’ and work well to deadlines. Using the
assignment activity in Canvas, everything can be specified, from due dates, to marks and feedback
options.
36 • Remember that much of this work is ‘looking over the shoulder’ of students, just keeping a check on
their progress. It is not meant to generate onerous amounts of marking for the teacher.
• Take a class roll. This communicates to the students that it matters that they attend.
• Communicate house-keeping matters, such as what is on Canvas this week, or which assessment
tasks are due.
• In VC/ Zoom lessons, establish routines of dialing in, seating arrangements and muting / unmuting -
This builds a consistent approach to each lesson and creates a positive environment for students.
• Communicate your expectations of student study time in the Learning Centre, so they can account
for their time.
• How long should they spend?
• Guidelines for research
• What would you like to see?
4. Create an engaged learning community
• Move from content to collaboration

• Engage your students by using the suite of Canvas and Zoom tools that allow students to work as a
whole class, in smaller groups or in partnership with other students:
• Breakout rooms
• Annotation
• Remote Control Access
• Collaborations
• Discussions
• Be a regular participant on forums you set and let the students see your engagement as an example
to follow.

• Visit and support these activities throughout the week. Students will engage in what is supported.
• Avoid 50 minutes of teacher talk (or 50 minutes of video). While never really effective in a face to face
lesson, it’s impact is amplified in a VC / Zoom lesson.
• Use questions. A lot. Use students names instead of campuses. This forces students to be attentive
for fear of being called out.

• Use Canvas in the lesson. Open up a class discussion for the lesson. It can be easier for students to
engage by typing rather than interrupting audibly.
• Groups still work in the online classroom, link students up in campus breakout groups for 5 minutes,
then expect them to report their findings back to the main group.
• Have some time with computers closed.
• Consider how to engage students in their self–directed learning.
• What piques their interest?
• Who can they team up with for self-directed study?
• What audience can they engage (report back to) with their findings?

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