Clarity in Instruction
Build the Familiar
A consistent flow of instruction helps provide stability and comfort in remote learning. While some of the activities and tools might change, the basic flow for each week should be fairly similar. In fact, Melanie Kitchen, Coordinator of Instructional Technology and Staff Development serving 19 school districts in Western New York state, says our first few weeks back should be spent building digital competency with our students. That means we must get them into flows of using the learning systems they might need in a remote setting. Remember those questions on the FAQ? Address those in the first weeks of school. This includes encouraging families to use the parent versions of these systems.
Use Multiple ways of Presentation
- Did you send a written announcement? Maybe post a quick video at the bottom with the same message.
- Did you post a video of a great lab experiment? Maybe your students don't have the bandwidth or data plan to support video. Take pictures (or screen shot images from your video) of crucial moments in the experiment and write out the explanation.
- Check written materials for screen reader accessibility with tools like WebAIM Links to an external site..
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Some of your students may not be able to watch a livestream, whether it’s due to timing, internet access, or the ability to focus on a lesson via a videoconference. And some students have trouble processing information when it’s presented only in auditory form. If you’re delivering live instruction via video, record it for students to review or access later. You can upload/link the video to your LMS.
- Record right in Canvas--instructions or feedback. Record in Google: Feedback at specific points. Insert audio on an image from a Google slide that asks a question for students to ponder. Are you reading a book as a class? Consider offering an audio and/or video of you reading chapters aloud so students can listen and read along if they choose.
Simplified, Prioritized Instruction
What learning is essential and holds endurance?
What transfers across disciplines or prepares students for the next level?
Remote learning can foster some really fantastic deep learning that you already achieve in seated instruction!
Feedback, Feedback, Feedback
You know the importance of feedback and giving students specific and timely guidance on next steps. It is as much a part of your day as breathing in a face to face classroom. You know that students will not count feedback as feedback unless it feeds forward. They have to know what to do to move on with their learning; thus lots of formative feedback is essential. How will you do that in a remote learning environment?
Additionally, the remote learning environment makes analyzing student progress imperative. Frequent formative activities allow us to gauge how students are learning and intervene if necessary. This is where quick communication at the first sign of struggle or absence from class helps bridge gaps academically and emotionally.
Feedback Ideas in Your LMS (Learning Management System)
Feedback using Seesaw
Links to an external site.
Feedback in Google Classroom Links to an external site.
Feedback in Canvas Links to an external site.
Rubrics and Checklists
Providing checklists or rubrics for students as they prepare to turn in their work is a great way to reduce questions, boost accountability, and provide another level of clarity regarding expectations.
Clear Learning Intentions and Success Criteria
If you are staying up on research-based teaching practices (and we know you are because teachers just can't stop learning!), you know that presenting learning intentions and success criteria increases student focus because it provides a clear path and expectation for learning.
Learning intentions state the concepts and skills reflected in the standard in "I" statements that help students monitor their learning. Success criteria state what students must do to show learning of that intention. Thus tasks and assessments will be aligned to them.
Questions to ponder:
How will I establish learning expectations for students? How will I communicate these to students?
How will I ensure students know what success looks like?
How will I align tasks and design learning assessments for remote learning?
Fisher Douglas. The Distance Learning Playbook, Grades K-12 (p. 81). Corwin. Kindle Edition.
Want to Learn More? Dig in:
Corwin Whitepaper: How to Empower Student Learning With Teacher Clarity Links to an external site.
Other Courses to Learn More
Designing Tech Amplified Lessons