Teaching with a Remote Learning Model

Introduction

Schools that employ a remote learning model do not have students and educators physically present in a traditional classroom environment. Students engage in learning through various technology tools in order to simulate an in-person learning experience. Depending the type of remote learning schedule that schools implement, students may participate in asynchronous learning, synchronous learning, or some combination of both. Remote learning does not come without its challenges for students and educators alike, but until schools are able to reopen schools safely and give students a traditional educational experience, educators will have to utilize new strategies and resources to make learning more effective.

Resources

There are many resources available online for teaching with a remote learning model. Many schools across the country have closed down and are engaging in remote learning in order to protect students and educators from Covid-19. Adjusting to remote learning has not been easy because the learning model presents obvious challenges. The articles and informational sites below will provide educators with advice on how they can teach remotely most effectively.

Articles

Tips and Strategies for Effective Remote Learning:

1. Teaching Strategies for the Remote Classroom: Western Governors University (WGU) offers an article in which an educator who has previous experience with teaching an online course provides some teaching strategies that will help others to engage students in their remote classrooms. These teaching strategies include establishing your presence right away, being available, using online resources, avoiding lecturing, etc. This educator also explains how teaching online has taught her to apply e-learning strategies to the traditional classroom and showed her that engaging students is the key to success.
2. Remote Teaching Good Practices – Beyond the Tech: Dartmouth College provides an article explaining good remote teaching practices beyond the technology. It discusses beginning with teaching remotely, building and sustaining a community, reviewing course materials and delivering content, creating opportunities for engagement and discussion, delivering assessments and exams online, and more.
3. Tips for Effective Distance Learning: Khan Academy provides educators with tips for effective distance learning. The article discusses adapting communication skills, choosing the best tools and sticking with them, keeping a schedule, supporting independent learning, motivating students, and more. Educators who want to learn how Khan Academy can be used to submit students in a remote learning environment should read Using Khan Academy for Remote Learning.
4. 80 Tips for Remote Learning From Seasoned Educators: The New York Times has put together 80 tips from remote learning from 28 middle and high school teachers. There are ideas for community building, rituals and routines, instruction, technology, and managing your own health and well-being. For educators who are looking for advice on how to navigate remote learning, this resource is probably one of the best out there!
5. 6 Strategies for Successful Distance Learning: edutopia has compiled a list of 6 strategies for successful distance learning. The article explains how educators should be authentic, familiar, simple, flexible, organized, and concise along with why these are so important for creating a remote learning environment where educators and students alike feel empowered.
6. 7 Tips To Help Make Remote Learning More Effective: Forbes has published an article that discusses 7 tips to help educators make remote learning more effective. The article recommends that educators get students into the habit of participating, focusing on content not comprehension skills, keeping it simple, connecting new content to old and providing examples, and more. Even if all these tips cannot be implemented, it will be helpful for educators to keep them in the back of their minds!

Other Related Topics:

1. What Have We Learned About Remote Learning?: Teach For America provides an article explaining what we have learned about remote learning based on a new report from Bellwether Education Partners. The article first discusses how schools are prioritizing basic needs, technology, and family engagement before talking about how most schools have focused on pragmatic and resourceful approaches to remote learning. However, it also explains how schools nationwide have struggled to serve students with disabilities. Lastly, the article touches upon planning for an uncertain future and considerations for future research.
2. Why Are Some Kids Thriving During Remote Learning?: edutopia has published an article discussing why some students are thriving during remote learning and what we can learn from them. Though remote learning comes with its challenges, the article describes the benefits of self-pacing, rethinking the overextended kid, lowering the stakes, reducing the chatter, and getting enough sleep.
3. Students, Parents and Teachers Tell Their Stories of Remote Learning: The New York Times provides a compilation of stories of remote learning from students, parents, and teachers across the country. They will hear about how students are coping, how parents are dealing with remote learning, and how other teachers are keeping their students engaged. This resource will be very valuable for educators because they will be able to understand the perspective of everyone involved in the remote learning experience!

Informational Sites

1. Best Practices – Online Pedagogy: Harvard University offers educators valuable information on teaching remotely. The page includes some general advice, course types, using video, engaging students remotely, and assessments. 
2. What is Remote Learning?: Tech & Learning has published an informational article that explains what remote learning is, its structure, and what is necessary for it to be successful.
3. What is Remote Learning? What You Need to Know: Albert.io provides an article discussing remote learning and what people should know about it. The article reviews what remote learning is and how it works, the benefits and disadvantages of remote learning, five remote learning examples, a typical structure for remote learning, how remote learning can be implemented, the difference between remote and online learning, and more.

Conclusion

Teaching with a remote learning model is certainly not ideal for many educators and students. Educators should remember that remote learning is not the same as conducting traditional learning virtually! The same strategies that may allow students to learn effectively in the classroom may not be as successful when students are at home. Additionally, one of the biggest challenges of remote learning is that students are unable to have the same level of social interaction that they are used to, so it is very important that educators continue to offer students support and help students foster relationships with one another.