How To Setup A Remote Virtual Classroom

virtual classroomSetting up a virtual classroom can happen in two different ways.

The first is a type of remote learning that happens at the pace of the learner. They can start, pause, or continue the lesson depending on what is convenient for them. This type of elearning is completely independent because students get to learn on their own with minimal guidance and supervision.

The other way to setup a virtual classroom is to provide active guidance. Most people call this remote elearning. It is not the same as the other type of elearning – distance learning. It happens partly online and offline. Usually, the test and examinations happen offline. Remote learning happens completely online – either through phone or video conferencing.

Of the two, it is easier to set up the first type because it does not require a lot of supervision. As long as you can setup a tech support system, the learning can happen even if you do not monitor it often. On the other hand, having an active interaction between the educator and the student is more tricky.

To make the remote virtual classroom successful, there are a couple of things that you need to remember.

Give learning experience a boost.

The challenge in teaching online is the lack of physical interaction between the educator and the student. This is why you need to see how you can boost the learning experience. The best way to do this is to avoid teaching the student. Instead, the educator must facilitate the learning process. That means setting up activities that will make the students learn on their own. Educators will be there to provide guidance. But the learning process will have to be controlled by the student. They will ask questions and find the own answers through the supervision of the educator. This type of learning will make it even more memorable and thus increase the retention rate.

Design the best virtual classroom.

Ideally, you want the learning to happen individually. That means the educator will have one-on-one sessions with the student. This is the best way for the educator to gauge the progress of the student. However, this is not always feasible because there are times when multiple students have to learn at the same time. Of course, the number of students should still be manageable. The educator should have separate screens for each student. This will enable them to see their reaction to the lesson – and act accordingly based on what they observe.

Setup frequent evaluations.

It is actually harder to improvise in a remote virtual classroom compared to the other alternatives of learning. This is why you should setup frequent evaluations to ensure that the students are progressing according to the expectations of the course. Going for a mistake-driven approach is possible here. Students can make mistakes and then go back to the lesson to figure out why they committed the error. This type of learning will allow them to have a positive outlook in making mistakes because they know that it does not signify that they are a failure. It is a great trait to teach them as it will develop their mindset about corrections.

A virtual classroom is a great way to learn but only if you know how to set it up properly. Remember that in the end, you need to consider the type of learner or student that will be accessing the elearning course.

Image courtesy of Ben Schonewille for FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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