Mel’s Ten Tips – Teaching Online, Teaching Real-Time, Teaching with Zoom

In this day and age, it’s not enough to teach ‘knowledge’ which is widely accessible. We need to be not only teachers, but mentors, facilitators, and perhaps most importantly, performers.

Tip 1. Get comfortable and make sure that your students are, too.

Some universities advocate being official, standing up, dressing in jacket and tie, emulating a classroom situation whenever possible. I say no. Everybody knows that it’s not a classroom.

When you’re teaching with Zoom, it’s okay to bring beverages and food to the classroom. You can bring a cup of coffee too (I would leave the wine and beer for the end of the class!).

Tip 2. Be Authentic in an Inauthentic Situation.

You can put a backdrop of a classroom to loosen things up. The students will know you are not in Ottawa. Don’t try to convince them otherwise.

Can you smile? Authentically? That works better than anything else. Authenticity also means it’s ok to sing, to joke, to make mistakes. To be human. To be in the zone.

Tip 3. Make sure the students have their video cameras on.

I know that in many places, you can’t FORCE the students to turn on their videos. But you must persuade them. You will be much more interesting if you can see your students. And your students will be much more engaged if they can see one another as well as you.

Tip 4. If you don’t have a teaching assistant, ask a student to volunteer as one.

Your TA can tell you if there are technical issues, can interact with the students (e.g., via the Zoom chat, or the class whatsapp).

Tip 5. Look at your audience -virtually!

This is difficult when you are seated with a laptop. Since the camera is not at right angle, looking at the camera will not work (it will seem as if you are looking up). If you look at the pictures of your students on the screen it will appear as if you are looking away.

What you need to do is look at an imaginary point on the screen, between one-half and two-thirds of the way up. Here is an e-book which explains how you can find the ‘sweet spot” so that it appears that you are making eye contact. That is super important.

Tip 6. Try to limit classes to 25 students.

Size does matter when it comes to online teaching. The fewer the better. You should be able to see all your students on one screen. Teaching larger classes (I also do that) is more challenging.

You have to be even more engaging (see further) and make sure you have a teaching assistant, otherwise it becomes a disaster.

Tip 7. Engagement: Ask a lot of questions

The students will lose attention if you don’t engage them. Ask them questions, both general questions, and ones specifically aimed at a group of students or individual ones. Make sure they have the opportunity to express themselves. Generate discussions and debates on issues.

Turn your students into teachers. Ask them to prepare assignments which they can then share with the class, or in groups via breakout rooms.

Tip 8. The breakout rooms are awesome

Here is another thing that is almost impossible to do when teaching in a regular setting. The ability to create breakout rooms which you can visit (or not) is a great opportunity to allow students to work and discuss together.

Tip 9. Invite guests from anywhere. 

During my last class on the digital future, I was able to invite experts from around the world. A different volunteer in the class did the introduction each time, they asked questions. It was a great experience.

Someone who has had several multimillion dollar exits told me, “It was great fun. I’m happy to do it anytime. Now I know why you love teaching.”

Tip 10. Use web tools!

There are other great tools on Zoom and the web that allow you and  your students to express themselves, chat, create wild and wacky backgrounds. Share screen and take advantage of Ourboox.com and the hundreds of websites that allow you and your students create and share interactive material for free.

TED talks, Thinglink, Google Street View, and so much more. It’s all there for us to take advantage of.

https://www.google.com/maps/@48.8600991,2.3266475,2a,75y,64.88h,87.84t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s0i9nGV0vy4JaKFXXllkeMA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

https://www.travelandleisure.com/attractions/museums-galleries/museums-with-virtual-tours

Tip 11 – Share the screen only when you need to.