Architects in education: Prepare to learn remotely
Learning online may seem new and unfamiliar, to you and your instructors.
If you are currently in education and your institution shut down you will have to adopt to new ways of learning.
The remote learning environment, as you’ll see, will have many differences, yet also many similarities. Let’s start by acknowledging what’s staying the same.
What isn’t new
· A classroom is a classroom: a learning community that sees each other. Adopt the same norms (clothing, chair, etc.) as in a physical classroom.
· Take notes. For many people taking notes during the class helps with focus and engagement.
· Build on others’ questions and comments.
· Silence/mute other computer apps (messages, calendar, etc.) while you are in class.
· If watching pre-recorded lectures, pause periodically (~5 minutes) and ask yourself what you’ve learned. What were the takeaways? What aren’t you clear on? If you can’t remember what was covered, go back and review.
· If you have questions after finishing the lesson, reach out to your instructor, teaching fellows, and/or peers.
· Keep track of assignment due dates (which might change from what is listed on the syllabus). Do not wait until the last minute to submit assignments. And make sure you submit assignments by the method the instructor has specified — don’t e-mail when you should have uploaded, etc.
· Consider forming study groups with your classmates. Working through questions and concepts together is an important part of learning. You’ll have to spend some extra time getting that human contact when you’re learning online.
What is new
· You’re not in the same physical space as your peers. Try to find a quiet place where you’ll be able to focus, gather the materials you’ll need (computer, headphones, assigned readings, notes, etc.), and commit to participating in the class.
· Turn your camera on. When you’re in a physical classroom you’re visible; in an online classroom be visible too. Your instructor may call on you in class or have you break out into discussion groups with other students. It’s easier to communicate clearly — and engage fully — when you’re able to see each other.
· Chat: it’s not just that you can communicate with your peers, but that your instructor can see what you communicate — which can be a powerful addition to the learning process. Keep Chat messages short and to the point. Writing lengthy questions may distract you and others — and class will have moved on.
· Raise Hand: faculty are used to “reading the room” in the physical classroom, and this might be harder in some online contexts. You can use the Raise Hand feature [in the Participants control avaliable in software such as Zoom] to get their attention, or use Chat to ask for clarification before the professor moves on.
· Your instructor’s expectations for how you participate (speaking up, Raise Hand, submitting questions via Chat, etc.) may be different online. Make sure you understand their expectations. If you don’t know, ask.