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Classroom management 101 | Techniques for regular & online classes

With schools, colleges, universities, and training institutes facing the heat of the lockdown, course completion and continuity of studies, in general, have gone for a toss. It did not take long to turn to the only viable solution at hand – online virtual classes. As surprising as it might seem, in many countries, online education is yet to see mainstream adoption even in this era of digitalization, IoT, and whatnot. Traditional and age-old physical classrooms are preferred at most levels of education. Classroom management plans are an integral part of the curriculum now.

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It is not hard to understand that the transition from the usual brick-and-mortar classroom to the online one, for the most part, has been a bumpy ride. Unfortunately, there is little in the way of alternatives. But then again, the show (read: studies) must go on. So the majority of schools and colleges understandably took their teaching online. Mere classroom management strategies have to be changed to online compatibility now. It is worth noting that despite all the hurdles, effective online classroom management strategies can go a long way in smoothening out the learning process.

What is Classroom Management?

Classroom management has been defined by an expert going by the name of Annette M. Iverson as the process of conditioning and supervising behaviours, interpersonal relationships, and instructional parameters for learners. She went on to explain that classroom management is an essential activity that helps curb discipline problems and promotes a healthy learning atmosphere.

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Len A. Froyen and Annette M. Iverson in their 1999 book “Schoolwide and Classroom Management: The Reflective Educator-leader” revealed that classroom management strategies have the following three mandatory components: Content Management, Conduct Management, and Conduct Management.

1. Content management

This is the management of space, materials, equipment by the instructor as well as the movement of lessons and learners who are part of a curriculum or program.

Example – Some students are working in tandem on an assignment, and the teacher monitors the group by physically circulating around the room and providing feedback and assistance as and when necessary.

2. Conduct Management

This is the collection of technical skills that lecturers utilize to address and resolve discipline problems in the classroom.

Example – A certain student is mocking or disrupting other students’ work or showing some kind of superiority complex. The teacher responds by reminding that student or even all of the students to respect each other’s work while passing positive comments on student’s actions thus far, if applicable. The particular student in question gets a lesson gently to be assistive and not disruptive.

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3. Covenant management

This is concerned with the classroom as a whole, treating them like a mini social system that has its own customized features. These ‘features’ are to be taken into account by the lecturer when attempting to manage or in some cases, even dictate interpersonal relationships in the classroom with the sole motive of providing a near-perfect learning environment. Thus you can understand the importance of classroom management plans.

Example – A set of learners is working individually on a critical problem. The teacher then addresses the class to work together to find a solution. Later he or she commends the group for their effort irrespective of whether they can derive the answer or not.

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Researches indicate that classroom management plays a central role in student excellence. Instructors should provide the learners with a great learning environment that aims to encourage active participation and healthy competition among them. The classroom management style of the teacher should be student-centric if successful learning is the objective.

Effective classroom management

Effective classroom management should be one of the first and foremost responsibilities of the teacher, whether it’s an online or a traditional classroom. The students must be made aware of the need to behave appropriately, and the lecturer should exercise some sort of control over all of them so that any unwanted issues can be nipped in the bud. Effective classroom management is far more than just a list of dos and don’ts, though.

Okay so, what do I exactly mean by ‘effective online classroom management strategies’? If you’re a teacher, and an experienced one at that, you probably think what’s the big deal? It’s just the change of scenery! Teaching is, after all, the same right? Well yes and no. It’s one thing to be able to teach well but a completely different thing to be able to perform effective classroom management online.

Online vs Offline Classes

In light of the current situation, effective classroom management calls for a crystal clear knowledge of the exact differences between an online and offline classroom, especially in the Indian context.

How exactly are virtual classrooms different from traditional classrooms, and how do they affect classroom management styles? Or do they differ at all beneath the surface? Let’s examine.

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If you compare on face value, both virtual and regular classroom training have the same agenda. In both cases, the teacher will present instructions in an easy to understand manner to the students and periodically test their understanding and retention of the same. But there are key differences that need to be understood.

Classroom Management Strategies

The first and foremost difference lies in classroom management which in-turn affects classroom management techniques. In a traditional classroom, the concerned teacher is at liberty to physically move the students around. This grouping and re-grouping of the learners in various ways can help break up unwanted camaraderies amongst students who often prove to be detrimental to lecture delivery. Also, mixing and matching the layout of the seating can foster a sense of teamwork, especially in lessons or assignments that demand some. This ensures that learning remains interactive and fun.

On the other hand, virtual classes are done using some video conferencing software that facilitates interaction between the student and the teacher and additionally, between students themselves when the need arises. But here the grouping makes little sense as the teaching is mostly one-to-one even though limited communication as a group may be possible. As a result, virtual classes work best when the audience is limited to a specified number of people. But in the case of recorded classes having little to no instructor interaction whatsoever, such as MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses), class size may be kept unlimited.

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Use of back channels

The next big dissimilarity comes in the usage of ‘back channels’. Back channels are well known when it comes to lectures. Here the listeners are expected to sit for quite some time. Traditionally speaking, especially in India, lecturers normally ban phones and other gadgets from the class, but in the present context, the situation has reversed. Teachers are even setting up social media hashtags as a backchannel for the audience in order to serve as reminders or even attract more listeners.

Virtual classrooms from popular platforms normally have some sort of functionality built-in to act as a backchannel for the listeners for even more engagement. It’s thus common to witness both the main presenter as well as a host in online lecture sessions. Thus virtual classroom management is of utmost importance.

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Lack of Visual Feedback

Lack of some sort of visual feedback is an obvious challenge for instructors. When lecturing directly to an audience inside a single classroom, the teacher is able to adapt his or her delivery based on visual feedback from his students.

For example, a room full of bored faces is an indicator that they need to be introduced something more interesting or engaging to make the session more fruitful. But such provisions are non-existent during an online session wherein the obvious lack of personal touch is a considerable barrier.

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Anonymity of students

Online classes differ in the sense that the identity of the learners is not liable to be always disclosed. Anonymity resulting from not being physically present in a classroom can be a benefit to students attending online sessions. Students who might hesitate to speak up or raise their doubts in a physical classroom can feel more secure if their identity to not revealed to other members of the class.

Also, specially-abled students are at no disadvantage in a virtual classroom where their participation is not hindered by any kind of disability, unlike in physical classrooms.

Getting Started with Online Classroom Management

An end to this pandemic situation is nowhere in sight so it can be safely stated that online classes will be the new normal for the foreseeable future – be it school, colleges, universities, or training institutes. Therefore the current situation calls for devising aggressive yet effective online classroom management strategies that will keep education accessible even during these trying times.

If you’re a teacher then you must realize in order to get most of your students on-board (and happily so) when teaching remotely you need to make the sessions enjoyable and let your students have fun within the boundaries of the discipline. They need to be put at ease. After all virtual classroom behaviour management techniques are centred around those students themselves, it’s your job to make them feel engaged, comfortable and valued even if they make mistakes which some of them surely will.

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It will take some learners a bit longer than others to adjust. But sooner or later, better results will be produced with a supportive and caring approach. You need to make them come back to your class the next day on their own, instead of forcing things down their throat. After all, let’s face it, teachers have lesser control over proceedings in an online classroom compared to a regular one.

Even if it sounds counterintuitive, a step back from the teacher may lead to two steps forward from his or her students.

Classroom management styles should be devised keeping open the possibility that learners will not only learn the subject matter but develop socio-emotion skills as well – especially how to go about behaving in such online platforms for maximum productivity.

Want some curated online classroom management tips? Read on.

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Online classroom management strategies

1. Sort out the technicalities

Okay, so first things first – it’s an online classroom, right? And online classroom involves a lot of gadgets, software, internet connection, and all that stuff what are prone to break, get out of order, or otherwise hamper the session in whatsoever way. Some online classroom management tips will definitely help you in the long run.

Sorting out the technicalities right at the beginning is at the heart of whatever online classroom management strategies you’ve thought of. Some of your students will definitely be less tech-savvy than others. Make sure you are in control of the software, the UI, know basic troubleshooting and just can figure out stuff if and when they go wrong. Keep Murphy’s Law in mind, always prepare for the worst.

It should be your foremost duty as the instructor to tweak your classroom management strategies to accommodate technical glitches and be able to come up with quick solutions when needed.

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2. Engagement, Engagement, Engagement

Engagement is always nice to have. We would like to engage our students. But if it’s to be a trade-off between participation and standards or engagement and order, then engagement surely loses out. Here comes something called classroom behaviour management. If the students do not find the lesson engaging, classroom behaviour management becomes an issue.

When teaching online, the classroom management strategy gets flipped. If you as a teacher cannot engage your students, they may stop showing up. And if they stop showing up, we may not get them back although all that engagement should not come in the way of lecture delivery. That’s why virtual classroom behaviour management is of utmost importance.

3. Start Slowly

The shift to online learning has been rather sudden. We bet many of your students even feel that this mode has been shoved down their throat all of a sudden – but nothing doing amidst the pandemic.

You have to realize that the first few days (or even the first week itself) is going to be focussed more on the dos and don’t of online learning rather than learning itself. Your students will eventually adjust to the new normal and also to your own flavour of online classroom management style and then gradually ease off into real studies.

And when the lessons start, you have to remember slow, and steady wins the race. If you start like a cheetah, it will get ugly. Your audience will get overwhelmed, or worse yet, lose interest altogether. Some might leave as well. And before you know it, they’ll be less attentive, less motivated, and way more distracted.

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Make sure you keep it fun, interactive, and enjoyable, especially in the initial stages. You have to be aiming to not only contribute to their subject matter learning but also to their holistic development, on keeping it fun, easy, and supportive. You can always up the ante once they are comfortable with you and the whole online learning process.

4. Real-Time Communication

Recorded videos can only do so much. Yes, they are beneficial in certain aspects, but if you talk about proper classroom management strategies, it’s always better to connect with them in real-time.

This serves two main purposes. Firstly, it helps set a particular classroom management style. Your students will associate that with you, further building your uniqueness among them.

Secondly, making pre-recorded videos that are also engaging are kind of difficult. There are already a lot of them in the wild. You run the risk of repetition and inducing boredom.

What students need from their instructors at this critical juncture now, more than ever, is a personal connection. Presence of an entire class and individual attention to their academics as well as mental well-being is necessary just to create that sense of normalcy. Or, small group sessions to allow discussion, not necessarily always about studies. To round it off, one-on-one sessions to guide students set mini-goals and stay motivated.

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5. Develop Student Responsibility

Developing student accountability is part and parcel of any online classroom management strategy. As teachers, you should offer options and opportunities to students for learning. But then again, you cannot spoonfeed everything. At the end of the day, your classroom management plan should include making your beloved students responsible and accountable for their plans and actions.

Students feel more in control of their own learning when they are able to set their own waypoints and have choices about how and when they learn what they learn.

6. Establish Ground Rules

Virtual classroom management is different from physical classroom management in the ways we have discussed before. Thus classroom management strategies play a very important role here. Be that as it may, one thing is common – rules have to set from the ground up. These rules can be academic, behavioural, and/or disciplinary. If you are worried about syllabus completion within the stipulated time and dread those unnecessary disciplinary or behavioural issues which can disrupt your schedule, you as the teacher should lay down strict rules and nip any possible evil in the bud.

Consider establishing norms early on in your schedule. Involve your students in the process too. If they know they can have a say in the rules, they will be more than likely to follow the same. It’s basic human psychology.

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Also, be aware and make your students aware that norms are not static; they may and will evolve. Having a fun “norms” check-in every week at a particular day can provide both structure and variety to your sessions.

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11 Best LMS Software | Top Free & paid LMS Software in 2020

Education, Remote work

Learning Management Systems (LMS) offer organisations a means of educationally developing their students/employees. Institutions are moving towards eLearning tools to train their students/employees while minimising time and costs. This software can provide a variety of educational functionalities such as online classrooms, message boards, skill tests, and performance tracking. This article will help you understand all about the benefits of LMS software and the top 10 LMS software to choose from.

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What is LMS software?

Before exploring the different advantages of LMS software, it is essential to know what is LMS software. LMS is the short form for the Learning Management System.

Learning because it is used to offer training or education programs.
Management, because it lets you organise these courses (generate them, change them, assign them to students or employees, grade them, and so on).
System is only a fancy word which translates to “software.” An LMS is essentially a computer program.

Much like Word that helps you write documents and Gmail that helps you manage your emails, an LMS software system helps you develop, manage, and deliver eLearning courses.

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A learning management system software is the “engine” that drives eLearning, and consists of two separate parts in the most common form:

A server component that operates the core functionality (creation, management and delivery of courses, user authentication, service of data and notifications, and much more).
A web-based user interface (such as Gmail or Facebook) which is used by administrators, instructors. And students through the browser.

Who uses the LMS software?

Everybody who does eLearning uses a learning management system software − and this encompasses far more than just educational institutions.

To offer a list which is not exhaustive –

Educational institutions focused on online and eLearning (online schools like Khan Academy and Lynda.com)
Companies of all sizes, from large multinationals to small and medium-sized enterprises;
Organisations, including non-governmental organisations and non-profits, from the United Nations to your local coop
Government bodies and local governments
Traditional institutions of education (schools, universities, colleges)

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Benefits of LMS software

Top LMS software provides several benefits.

1. Retention of knowledge

Training your staff is one thing, but it is also necessary to learn from them. When your employees leave or retire, a knowledge retention program ensures that valuable skills, techniques and information remain with your company. It is also a good fit for an LMS platform because you would not want this useful information to simply sit in a random document management system that no one ever checks. You would want to have it available to train new employees or individuals from other teams at any time.

Did you know? Employees with access to professional development opportunities are found to be 15% more engaged in comparison with those without such access.

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2. Optimisation of onboarding

New employees make or break the talent pool of a company. If workers are not fully aboard, they are always not going to hang around. Within the first year, the eLearning Industry has found nearly a third of all new hires leaving. Creating an effective onboarding process tends to help your newest employees to hit the ground. Through top LMS software, employees are taught what they need to know to get the job done. It ensures that everyone has clear goals and expectations from the beginning. By using this software for training, you will have the ability to instruct multiple employees at once, maintaining them on the same page throughout the onboarding process.

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3. Boost productivity of the workforce

Learning management systems help maximise the efficiency of employees in your company to develop a competitive workforce. You may recognise skills gaps and enrol workers in programs designed to develop their skills. While planning the growth of your company, you can foster the skills necessary for supporting the next steps within your workforce. In addition, LMS solutions unlock a key concept called social learning. When people learn by interacting with each other, they can adapt more effectively to what they need to know. They become intrinsically motivated to fulfil the expectations of each other. This method of interactive learning can be seen in the best LMS software.

4. Save costs and efforts

Developing an end-to-end training program costs time and money that most human resources departments lack. Training programs can be done for large groups of employees efficiently with the best LMS software. With learning management systems, the time it takes to train employee batches is drastically reduced. This allows you to reduce your training cycles and costs. Instead of recruiting a course teacher or HR administrator, the program includes tools to involve workers without an educator. Your courses could be online at certain times and require an instructor only then, or not at all. Once the training programs are in the system, it is possible to use the content and materials any number of times.

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Did you know? IBM saved around $200 through the implementation of a learning management system.

LMS software comparison

LMS software comparison can be made using two main criteria: licensing and deployment.

Using the licensing perspective, there are two kinds of LMS: Proprietary and Open Source software.

Proprietary LMSs are issued under exclusive legal rights and are prohibited from alteration, further distribution, reverse engineering and other uses. These are closed-source with per-user license fees.
Open source LMSs operate under the terms of the GNU General Public License. The license is designed to ensure the freedom to share and change the program, and to make sure that it is free for all users.

Using the deployment perspective, there are two kinds of LMS: On-premise and Cloud LMS.

On-Premise Learning Management Systems are mostly company products which are hosted on the company’s server. Typically, they are more expensive, but the fact that they provide more flexibility and individualisation than any other type can justify their price. They even fix scalability problems. Majority of them can be embedded with other products which are hosted locally.
Perhaps the most common alternative among companies seeking simplified and cost-effective training is cloud-hosted LMSs. They are hosted on the Internet and made available by logging into the site of the vendors, which is precisely where all communication and training takes place.

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LMS software list

Give below is the top LMS software list for you to choose the best –

1. GoSkills LMS

Price: Contact GoSkills support for customized package rates (available only by quote).

With GoSkills LMS, there’s no need to wait for course deployment. The platform offers a library of pre-configured courses for instant learner access. Additionally, the learning experience can be tailored to meet individual learner needs. GoSkills provides numerous resources to facilitate immersive and collaborative learning, including quizzes, videos, and leaderboards to keep learners engaged.

GoSkills LMS also offers workflow automation through its Smart Administration module. By setting triggers for various tasks, such as enrolling new employees in onboarding courses, administrators can streamline processes and focus on more critical responsibilities.

2. TalentLMS

Price: Free plan for up to 10 courses and 5 users; Advanced plan ranges between INR 5,987 and INR 40,093 per month.

TalentLMS is a mobile-ready, cloud-hosted learning system that is designed for large and small businesses. It arrives with extensive course management, learning delivery, and administrative management modules. Even tech-averse users can easily navigate through it. Using these TalentLMS features, you can have the most efficient way to author courses, engage learners, promote collaboration and even evaluate overall performance. TalentLMS, like its competitors, offers evaluation engines and analytics tools that will help in analysing the progress of your training programmes. It comes with features of gamification and blended learning to engage learners effectively. As one of the most popular LMS software, its distinguishing feature is configuration.

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3. Absorb LMS

Price: Contact vendor support for customised package rates (available only by quote).

There is no necessity to wait for the deployment of a course with Absorb LMS. The library of the platform includes pre-configured courses for instant access by the learners. The learning experience may also be altered to suit the needs of the learner. The platform comes with numerous resources that promote immersive and collaborative learning. Quizzes, videos, and leader boards go a long way to keep learners engaged in the content of the course. Absorb LMS can automate workflows through their Smart Administration module. All you need to do is set triggers for some tasks. These can include enrolling new employees to onboard courses. That way, administrators can concentrate on more critical tasks.

4. SAP Litmos

Price: Pro package begins from INR 455 per month, and Pro+ package begins from INR 1,137 per month.

SAP Litmos has one of the industry’s most popular LMS software. It not only provides WYSIWYG editing but also provides interoperability support for SCORM and TinCan. It even supports several file formats and the development of embedded content which allows users to shape interactive and engaging courses. SAP Litmos’ other strong suit is its reporting feature. It provides users the option to create reports according to specific metrics and indicators in real-time, traditional and custom. For this, learner development and course success can be measured more easily. Also, all reports and summaries can be exported in different file formats to make sharing and record keeping simpler.

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Did you know? Around 32% of LMS purchasing decisions are primarily dependent on price.

5. Docebo

Price: Contact vendor support for customised package rates (available only by quote).

One feature separating Docebo from other LMS applications is its modular interface. It is built to scale up or down seamlessly as per your e-learning and changing business needs. This means that by integrating it with your existing systems or other third-party applications, you can easily extend their functionalities. Modern companies require new methods of eLearning. This is why Docebo utilises artificial intelligence to give enhanced customisation, curation of content, and aggregation levels.

Moreover, it can automate a wide range of tasks for L&D administrators. Another thing that makes Docebo an exceptional LMS software is its extended e-learning approach to enterprise. In other words, it can be made available for training employees, partners and even customers. This can support over 30 languages to make things easier. That makes it possible for learners who are not English speakers to reach out.

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6. Canvas LMS

Price: Contact vendor support for customised package rates (available only by quote).

Canvas LMS arrives with an out-of-the-box course development feature that enables users to develop and publish interactive learner content. To make your courses as comprehensive as possible, it will support text, audio, and video. This LMS software provides multiple tools that reinforce collaborative work among learners. It comes with, for example, online conferencing software, audio and video messaging, and a shared content library. Throughout their training plan, the learners will stay linked and exchange references with each other. With its advanced analytics features and creative evaluation methods, Canvas LMS allows users to build data-driven courses. Using these, you can not only monitor your learners’ progress but also gain insights into how to tackle their learning barriers.

7. ILIAS

Price: Free

ILIAS is a free LMS software that provides a versatile platform for online work and learning. This software works as the “one-stop solution” for your e-learning needs. This full-fledged collaboration platform functions as a simple course player and advanced user authoring tool. With the existence of highly integrated access control, the application lets you fine-tune your permissions for each entity. The study programs will allow you to reproduce full curriculums with a single device.

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8. Bridge LMS

Price: Contact vendor support for customised package rates (available only by quote).

Bridge LMS comes with custom tools for building the learning route and preparing career growth options. You can develop different courses with these, and map them depending on the career plans of your employees. In this way, you can provide more tailored training programs to help them achieve more experience in their chosen career. This LMS does not fall short of course authoring and e-learning tools that will help make the learning experience more engaging.

For starters, it supports various media types, enables interactive video learning and provides a forum for in-course discussions. Participants may work with others to better understand their training materials. Bridge LMS allows teachers to offer more comprehensive feedback to the learners. It is through its performance interaction reporting, time-specific commentary, and performance analysis tools that you can write down your assessments and document them for future review.

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9. SkyPrep

Price: Ranges between INR 34,029 and INR 75,714 per month.

SkyPrep comes with a convenient content management system where the course documents can be imported, edited, and stored. With this, you not only retain your records, but also reuse files, images, and tests for quicker authoring of courses. What makes this even better is that it allows your students to connect material and courses to form learning paths. If you are looking to track your students’ growth, SkyPrep is going to be a boon.

It provides sophisticated reporting and analytics software that can carry out automatic testing, awarding awards and visual reports. It also helps you to build both course profiles and performance profiles for a more linear approach to performance reviews. SkyPrep provides extensive customizability in its native eCommerce, communication, and social media functionalities. The only variation is that it gives open API capabilities, making it a good alternative and would like more control over their integrations.

10. Moodle

Price: Free

Moodle operates as a free LMS software that enables users to create customised courses. This open-source learning management framework is capable of assessing the progress of training programs, managing virtual classes, and creating certificates through analytics. Instead of direct learning paths, it can develop and handle courses to meet specific requirements. Online, mixed instructor-led and self-paced classes can be used. This LMS program offers secure authentication and enrollment by number. With the support of over 50 authentication and enrollment methods, you can add and register users in Moodle courses. This system integrates courses in bulk and backup and allows restoration of extensive courses.

Did you know? Currently, Moodle has the highest number of users at approximately 73.8 million.

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11. Coassemble

Price: Begins from INR 34,029 per month

This LMS software lets you build courses easily through customisable templates. You can easily add videos, photos, and charts to the courses through the drag-and-drop functions to make them more stimulating. Such models are also mobile-responsive, and you get unlimited development of course. Coassemble comes with integrated reporting software that can help you view the numbers behind the results of your courses. Data on indicators like completion rate and learner results will provide useful insights into how successfully the courses are evaluated. Coassemble is compliant with SCORM files. So, these files can easily be imported into the software and shared with learners.

Choose the LMS software best suited for your business needs!

FAQs on LMS software

1. Which LMS is best?

A: TalentLMS and Moodle are the best LMS.

2. Is an LMS necessary?

A: Yes, an LMS is necessary for organisations to boost the professional development of employees and save time and money during the training programs.

3. What are the advantages of LMS?

A: LMS has several benefits. It enables employee retention, saves time and money, optimises onboarding, and improves productivity.

4. What are the limitations of LMS?

A: LMS tends to meet the needs of organisations more than learners. It limits informal learning and community development.

5. What are the features of LMS?

A: The features of LMS include managing users, courses, and roles. It helps in generating reports and certifications.

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Teaching strategies | Best strategies for regular & virtual classrooms

Remote work

Teaching is an art with which you can establish a strong bonding with your students. The bond eventually serves to be a boon in developing the core intellectual brain of the learners. The competency level uplifts, thereby increasing the knowledge span of a student. But to establish this mechanism, you need to inherit the key teaching strategies. The detailed understanding of the various teaching methods and acquaintance with the core teaching strategies are the keys to success.

Before venturing into the professional field of teaching, you need to gear up to face the educational world with grace and smartness. In the article, we will elaborate on the different types of teaching methods and their significance. Next, we will focus on the effective teaching strategies that you need to concentrate on.

Introduction to the world of e-learning and e-learning methods

Remember: Teaching strategies differ in the mode of education, classroom-based or virtual sessions. The teaching strategies for virtual classes slightly vary from that of a physical presence in a classroom.

What are the different types of Teaching Methods?

Though there are various teaching methods, you need to select the one that aligns with your subject of specialisation and the educational environment.

1. Teacher Focused Learning Methodology

In this particular type of learning methodology, a teacher is an authoritative person. He or she governs and instructs the entire proceedings in the classroom or the virtual sessions. Students are the listeners, obtaining the requisite knowledge from the instructor. The percentage of learning acquired by the students is measured through various assessments and tests.

Below are the sub-parts of this methodology.

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a. One Directional Conversation

The objective is to conduct short and focused sessions on a particular topic. All the topics and sub-topics are precisely packed into the defined duration. The teachers impart the knowledge within the fixed duration, with the students following the instructions. The option for questions and answers is not provided. It’s a technique to gather as much as knowledge possible.

b. Pre-recorded Classroom sessions

Though in this type of method, the teachers are present but the sessions are conducted through videos. The teachers record their lectures along with online or classroom-based assignments. They guide the students on the lessons that they need to follow and adopt in the videos. The students are expected to go through the videos at their home. Once done, they are expected to attend the classroom or online sessions to complete the assignments or tests.

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c. Hands-on learning sessions

The students in these type of learning sessions obtain knowledge through different hands-on activities. It may be in the form of browsing applications, conducting group discussions, presentations, debates and so on. There is no formal lecture provided by the teachers. The students are kept engaged continually, focusing on their practical abilities to adopt a topic.

2. Student Focused Learning Methodology

In this type of learning, the students and the teachers collaborate and interact extensively. Though the teachers coordinate the activities in the sessions, yet they encourage the students to communicate with themselves more. The students are assessed through group activities and their collaboration power.

The different sub parts of the methodology are:

a. Varying Instruction Levels

This method is based on the concept that all students do not possess the same level of grasping power. The intellectual levels may differ, and even the learning curve. The teachers essentially assess the capacity of the students and group them based on their learning abilities. They then specifically focus on the deficiencies within a group and try to uplift by conducting separate sessions.

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b. Learning through enquiries

Teachers here emphasise on questions from students. They then guide the students to research on the topics that would eventually assist them in receiving the answers to their queries. The students scan through different websites and books for deep dive research and analysis. The teachers facilitate the entire process and guide them on their analysis. A session is then conducted where the students share their learnings and experiences.

c. Experience-based learning

It is one of the effective methods of teaching. The students visit the real world and try to decipher the exact functions that occur practically. The areas of focus are selected based on their niche topics. The teachers guide them, to visit a factory or a travel destination or any government department for example. The students are expected to watch live actions and collect real-life data for their research and analysis.

d. Personalised Mode of Education

Each student is provided with a separate personalised study plan based on their interests and capabilities. The plan is prepared after assessing the students intellectual level and learning desires. This particular type of education is applicable while designing online courses or programs. You can set beginners level, intermediate level and expert level for each of the sessions. The students can select based on their expertise.

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e. Learning through games and events

The method is super interactive and entertaining. Various games and events are conducted in the classroom and the online sessions. They are designed in such a way to provide incentives for achievements. The students are required to participate and win points or prizes. The more they score the more they are rewarded. The teachers curates games and events in such a manner that the students work out their brains for the solutions.

Fun Fact: Gamification is a popular concept now in the professional world. Companies are focusing on it to gain customer satisfaction. If it is followed as a teaching method for the students, then you can prepare them well for the future.

3. Learning through Traditional Method

In classroom-based learning, normally, the traditional method of education is followed. The teachers utilise the whiteboard technique in imparting knowledge. The students are assessed through handwritten answers. Certain oral assessments are also conducted in the traditional methods of learning. The teachers encourage students to interact more with them and their fellow learners. They normally do not depend on Technology for conducting their academic sessions. Hands on is also encouraged through art, craft, and presentations.

Teaching English Online | Strategies, Requirements, Tips

4. Leveraging Technology for learning

Teaching software has undergone remarkable changes in recent times. Different applications and systems are available for online teaching. They have strengthened the teaching strategies for virtual classes. Smart classes are now prominent in the schools, colleges and universities. The online software supports screen sharing, sending documents, email notifications, instant messaging and chats etc. Students from various parts of the world can register and login for online classes through the audio and video conferencing systems with ease.

We will now discuss the core teaching strategies in a classroom as well as in online sessions.

Teaching strategies in a classroom

1. Prototyping

Prototyping is a method by which teachers create an example for an assignment. They essentially demonstrate the steps for completing the work by mimicking a live activity. This is one of the popular effective teaching strategies wherein the students can easily follow the instructions. They can finish their assignments with ease and can seek clarifications at the beginning itself. During prototyping, you must articulate each of the steps in a detailed and concise manner without any ambiguities.

2. Admit mistakes and rectify

Well, teachers are human beings and can commit any error. There is no harm or fault in it. Some may be accidental and some may be due to lack of relevant knowledge. Students may point out the fault in your lectures or may even correct your errors. Admit it smartly and acknowledge the certifications.

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3. Student Performance Assessment and Feedback

Students often are not aware of their performance levels in the classes. Their parents or guardians also seek feedback from the teachers. You must share your feedback through assessments or verbal meetings. The feedback should be focused on both good and bad points. You need to provide the remediation suggestions for improving the weak points.

4. Collaborations and Interactions

Introducing methods to collaborate and interact with students is one of the vital teaching strategies. The teachers must encourage them to speak about various topics through group projects and discussions. They also must facilitate extensive researches and analysis on the mentioned topics. The students will feel engaged and motivated through this process. It increases the bonding between teachers and students.

5. Experiential Learning

Gaining knowledge through live real-time experiences is a vital part of any learning process. This is one of the key instructional strategies that teachers must adopt in the modern academic world. Watching situations in front and analysing the different aspects are far more beneficial than a normal lecture imparted in a class.

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6. Role of a Teacher

Once or twice students must be allowed to play the role of a teacher. The essence is to give them topics and instruct them to explain the same in the class. It is one of the prominent teaching strategies adopted by the majority of the teachers while conducting their classes. The students feel the importance and prepare themselves for the sessions. They even gain knowledge by answering various questions from other students.

7. Group Projects and Discussions

Group discussions and executing projects in groups showcase the inherent talents of students. Teachers can easily assess the students on their research skills, communication expertise and analytical abilities. The students will be inspired to learn more and share their knowledge with all.

8. Encourage Queries

Teachers must encourage to ask questions as much as possible. But the answers must not be provided instantly. One of the smart instructional strategies is to provide the students’ hints for conducting researches to receive the probable answers. Teachers must guide the students in the process, thus encouraging effective participation from them.

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9. Be Transparent

You must be confident about your goals and objectives of the sessions. Before even initiating the classes, you must ensure your students are aware of the. Be transparent on your ideas and plans. The students then will be able to follow the entire session without any difficulty.

10. Graphics

Visual images are more appealing and effective in the learning process. You may be wondering what are examples of teaching strategies using visual methods. Well, it can be images, presentations, or utilising any props for demonstration. Your students will be able to relate the study topics with the graphics and grasp the concepts better.

Teaching strategies for online sessions and classes

The teaching strategies for online classes require much more care and dedication since you will not undergo a face to face interactions with your students.

1. Leverage Collaboration Tools

Conducting online classes will demand extensive interaction and collaboration with the students remotely located in different regions. You must select the best collaboration tools for conducting your classes. The tools must support sharing of screens, live chats and instant messaging, passing of files and documents as needed. Provision must be there for group discussions, polls, and surveys with the online classes in progress.

2. Self-learning via online courses

You can create interactive online courses through use cases and videos. The students can go through them as per their convenient time. You can organise clarification sessions for resolving queries. This provides additional flexibilities to the students and also opportunities for clearing their doubts.

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3. Utilise various Learning Tools

You must experiment on various innovative methods that you can adopt to increase the concentration level of students. It can be a combination of traditional and modern means of teaching strategies. You can sometimes leverage videos for a practical experience of situations or subject topics. On the other hand, you can use live whiteboards to explain the concepts. In either case, you need to focus on the attention level of students.

4. Curate varying sessions

One of the important teaching strategies for online classes is to assess the participants and their levels. Normally the online programs are planned or organised in a manner to benefits learners at different experience or age levels. There can be beginners, intermediate and expert level courses. Similarly, there can be programs for varying age levels – Kindergarten, Primary school, Middle School and Higher School.

5. Encourage cooperative and collaborative education

Online classes tend to divert the attention of students if they are not kept constantly engaged. Well, to answer the question of what are the examples of teaching strategies to ensure proper engagement? As a teacher for online sessions, you must promote online opinions and discussions between the students. The students must be encouraged to debate on topics, share their opinions, suggestions, recommendations for effective participation.

Fact: Teaching Strategies GOLD is an interesting mechanism assisting teachers to evaluate and assess their students at different age and educational levels. It has different parameters for the assessment activity. You can go for a continuous and ongoing assessment through the resources of Teaching Strategies GOLD.

6. Availability of online content in Smart Devices

Students prefer, nowadays, modern technologies and smart devices to assess online courses and programs. Hence you need to ensure the online courses and e-learning content are available in laptops, desktops, smartphones, tablets. They must be easily accessible and downloaded into the devices.

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7. Encourage Online feedback and comments

Feedbacks and comments are important teaching strategies for improvising your skills. After sessions, you must open the space for constructive feedback from the students. The best way is to create a feedback template and provide some questions which will help the students answer efficiently. The feedbacks need to be accepted positively and worked on sincerely.

8. Assessments and Tests

One of the important teaching strategies is to evaluate the performance of your students. You must conduct online assessments and tests at frequent intervals. Feedbacks about a student’s performance is also important to be communicated on time. It is mutually beneficial in both ways.

Tip: You may not be able to answer some queries from students. Do not treat it as a failure. But be smart in acknowledging to get back soon on the answer.

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Conclusion

We have discussed by now, different teaching strategies that can eventually guide for conducting your classes smartly and efficiently. However, it is not mandatory to follow all the strategies. You need to first assess the subject topic, its complexity, the qualifications of the students and the course duration. Based on the assessment, determine which teaching method or strategy is best suited for you. Apply them appropriately and enjoy their benefits.

In certain cases, you may not be sure about which teaching strategy to be leveraged. You can try for some experimentation in that case. Apply the techniques for a few sessions and evaluate success and failure. If you succeed, then look for more and more innovations. For failure, understand the deficiencies and try for different strategies.

The teaching strategies mentioned in the article are the proved and prominent techniques leveraged by the majority of academicians and teachers. It is recommended to follow them after proper research and analysis.

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Virtual Field Trip | Take Your Children Around The World

Remote work

Gone are the days when you had to stick to the calendar, prepare everything beforehand, and burn a tiny hole in your pocket for the field trips. Virtual is the new reality and is now used in ways that were previously unimaginable. Virtual field trips have been taking over the education domain. It makes learning more realistic and fun. The biggest perk is that it is free of cost. Relax and soak in history and magnificence of the world without moving an inch from your comfort. Virtual advancements have removed the constraints of time, cost, and location making everything accessible in a few taps and clicks. Now the question is, what is a virtual field trip?

Content Index

What is a virtual field trip?
Different types of virtual field trips
How do virtual field trips work online?
Why use virtual field trips in classrooms?
Best virtual field trips
Pros and cons of virtual field trips
Best practices for virtual field trips

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What is a virtual field trip?

Virtual field trips are an online tour that permits students to explore places related to their course subjects, making the learning more intuitive safeguarding their interests. During a virtual field trip, students can be guided through galleries, iconic national landmarks explicit to the course content. A virtual field outing can constitute live performances, seminars, or even talk with leading pioneers in a particular field of study. It upgrades the overall experience and involves vivid enhancements. These field trips have a reality dimension with a structured point of view when compared to traditional bookish course plans. Virtual field trips give insights into national and worldwide perspectives.

Nowadays, more schools are utilizing video conferencing to lead virtual field outings which opens the door to flexibility and customization. The magnificence of virtual field trips is that there can be tailored experiences, each one being unique meeting the instructive objectives. Virtual field trips additionally permit students to meet with prolific personalities one on one for a small amount of the expense than bearing the price and hassle of an actual physical visit.

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Studies show that virtual visits extend students’ comprehension of what they are learning and that innovation permits them to widen their imagination. The learning extends beyond four walls, and thick book pages since virtual field trips can allow them to explore far and wide. Video conferences between accomplice schools allow students from various continents and descent to share a global bond giving them diversified exposure.

What are the different types of virtual field trips?

There are two kinds of virtual field trips accessible.

1. Packaged

Packaged or bundled virtual field trips are typically sorted out into three essential sorts:

Commercial: Commercial destinations need to offer something to the visitors. The visitor is enticed into visiting a tourist or vacation destination.
Educational: These are widely used for particular courses by teachers and students to cover the course plan.
Informational: Informational trips are used to spread awareness for a good cause.

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2. Customized

These are expensive and have a limited audience range. The entire trip is curated and personalized for a specific objective.

How do virtual field trips work online?

When compared to traditional field trips, virtual field trips are less strenuous to plan. You can even plan a trip tomorrow because prerequisites are minimal. This is a perfect solution and a safe alternative too. Various tools and video conferencing mechanisms make the entire process frictionless. All you need to do is find an ideal tool that fits the course agenda retaining the course scope. Here is the list of virtual field trips tools which can be availed for unparalleled experiences and how do virtual field trips work online.

1. Google Earth VR

Google Earth VR genuinely carries the experience to the next level. Anybody with a VR headset can zoom over the earth and explore 3D structures and geology and enjoy a 360-degree perspective. Google Earth VR offers a delightful learning experience. It is a free tool but requires considerable investment on VR sets.

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2. NOVA

NOVA gives striking models with wonderful pictures. Videos, articles, and interactives are accessible on themes including Engineering, Space, Evolution, Physics, Body, Planet Earth, Maths, Military, Espionage, Tech, History, and many more. Students are associated with numerous honour winning partner sites including Nova Education, Nova Next, Nova ScienceNow, The Nature of Reality, Nova Labs, and The Secret Life of Scientists and Engineers.

It has an impressive assortment of science narratives, which clients can see online through YouTube. Every Nova program has a separate site with connections to recommended Web Links. Each intuitive game on the site incorporates supportive instructional exercises that assist students with how to play topics for understanding the crux. This free tool is suitable for grades Pre KG to 12.

3. Google Lit Trips

Students can utilize Google Lit Trips to explore the social and geographic setting of abstract work. This opens doors for innovativeness and freedom with motivation to learn more. Google Lit Trips let students use Google Earth to explore areas over 100 titles going from fiction to nonfiction. Users can select a title and get a downloadable ZIP through email. Once opened, zoom in to see a spring up video, photograph, instructional exercise, educational content, or question about that land locale or spot in the storyline.

They’re a cool turn on contemplating books and accounts; the merging of stories and topography will be remarkable and welcoming. This will require a gadget that supports Google Earth. The tool is free and is suitable for grades from KG to 12.

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4. Oddizzi

Oddizzi is an incredible tool to get kids engaged with finding out about geology and worldwide culture. Students venture to the far corners of the planet by tapping on pinpoints on a guide or exploring through six major theme territories. Find out about topographical highlights like food, cultivating, and reasonable exchange, atmosphere, and climate frameworks, or various nations and their societies and customs. Every subject has varying content of the text, recordings, pictures, fun realities, and connections to related themes.

Oddizzi is packed with fun assessments and content that can assist students with understanding the world like never before. The best highlight is that it permits children to make genuine connections with kids from around the globe. This paid tool is suitable for students from grades 3 to 12.

5. Expeditions

Expeditions offer a wide range of VR field trips where every campaign is composed of different scenes that incorporate 360-degree displays and 3D pictures. It is supported by Google and various accomplices like Planetary Society, WNET, Houghton Mifflin, etc. It aids in learning with stunning pictures of the universe with immense flexibility. Expeditions comes in two modules: free and paid.

Introduction to the world of e-learning and e-learning methods

6. Nearpod

Nearpod is a tool for intelligent learning and assessments. Users can transfer recordings, pictures, sound files, and PDF documents and take numerous tests and surveys. Teachers and students can equally contribute to learning via collaboration boards. Teachers can screen progress either from the site or through the application. Nearpod gives prompt input and informs teachers where reteaching would be profitable. Nearpod has both free and paid versions suitable for kids studying from grades K to 12.

7. National Geographic Education

National Geographic Education site can be utilized for topography based lessons and related topics like climate, flora and fauna, history, and culture. The content is in the form of exercises, recordings, photographs, interactives, maps, and much more. The National Geographic Education site offers broad, top-notch content for geology, world history, science, oceanography, nature, designing, cartography, and recent developments. Stunning videos and hypnotizing photographs of animal life, characteristic wonders, events, making learning quite engaging. Students can take virtual field trips, study maps of the world through history or themed by subject, and make their own guide based stories. This is completely free and is used effectively for students from grades Pre KG to 12.

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Why use virtual field trips in the classroom?

There are various reasons to answer the why use virtual field trips in the classroom question.

Aligned with the curriculum with a seamless learning
These can be real time-savers as they explain the most complex of concepts in an illustrative way
Some of the tools come with post quizzes and assessments to gauge the learning effectiveness
These are perfect solutions for a budget constraint institutions
The learning outcomes are immensely growing in leaps and bounds
There is absolutely no physical boundary and exploration is limitless

What are some of the best virtual field trips?

Virtual field trips make it possible to tread literally anywhere anytime. Be it Sahara or Antarctica, even inter galaxy expedition is possible which is otherwise unachievable in reality. Here are some of the best virtual field trips.

Museums like Musée du Louvre, British Museum, National Gallery of Art, SFMOMA, Museum of Science, Vatican Museum, Museum of Fine Arts, etc
Landmarks like Ellis Island, Mount Vernon, Buckingham Palace, White House, Mount Rushmore, etc
Zoos and Parks like Yellowstone National Park, Reid Park Zoo, Georgia Aquarium, San Diego Zoo, Bronx Zoo, National Aquarium, Smithsonian National Zoological Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Craters of Moon, etc
Manufacturing plants and industrial tours
Space and inter, intra-galaxy tours

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What are the pros and cons of virtual field trips?

Virtual field trips can not totally eradicate real field trips because of several reasons. The genuine experience is quintessential. This lacks in most of the virtual field trips. But virtual field trips come with many positive points which get most of the limelight. They are cheap and can be availed in all sizes of schools to every class of people. They enforce a rich learning methodology. The students become quickly adaptable to technology too.

But it has downsides too. A lack of technological prudence can make it go to waste. Virtual visits can’t offer touch, smell, and aural emotions. The teacher needs to put in extra effort in planning the discourse, bit by bit, to keep it engaging and captivating. Long hours of virtual field tours can bore people and should be broken into consumable sessions.

What are some of the best practices for virtual field trips?

Grabbing the attention of the students is quite a task. Going past the essential bookish information and retaining the enthusiasm, making learning extraordinary are all now possible because of virtual field trips. They have become a helpful methodology for learning via connecting. Utilizing innovation, virtual field trips permit teachers to get inventive. Accessible at the snap of a finger, a virtual field trip defeats numerous limitations making it an intuitive, powerful tool. The accomplishment of virtual field trips regularly relies upon how well it is planned to get the most out of it.

1. Thorough research is the key

The teachers must explore themselves as to what to showcase the students. Searching for the right trip within the budget covering the essentials is the most crucial step; otherwise, it would be a total failure.

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2. Planning is crucial

Every virtual field trip has an objective. Teachers must gauge the trip in ways that the goal is attainable and students learn the most out of it. This should also include the prerequisite setups if any.

3. It has to be engaging

Make sure that the students are not just watching but actually participating actively in the discussion. Conduct discussions and assignments to check how much they learned out of the experience. The students must be given a brief explanation, outlining the objectives. There are various ways that teachers can conduct an evaluation and take constructive feedback for future references. Students can share their own involvement in the class or give a detailed account of their first-hand experience.

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Conclusion

Future innovation is constantly improving at a quick pace and with this new innovation creating greater immersive experience via a virtual field trip. Research continues to progress to reap the benefits of augmented reality coupled with virtual experiences. The idea of hands-on work is quickly changing because of new advances in technology making the entire process more seamless, simple, and affordable. The gap between the virtual and reality is slowly bridging up with utmost precision obscuring the differences. Virtual field trips, therefore, can be used as a powerful tool in various domains and not just satiating the learning needs.

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Teaching English Online | Strategies, Requirements, Tips

Remote work

In the past few years, the teaching English online job market has matured significantly, and the demand for teachers continues to expand. Indian students make up the bulk of the student population. Teaching English online allows ease for all those searching for part-time teaching positions. It can transform into a full-time job for those inclined to put in the hours and hard work. Interestingly, you can teach English without a degree as well.

Refer to the article below to know all about teaching English online.

Did you know? Online TEFL platforms typically take a commission of around 10-15% from online teachers.

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Online English teacher requirements

Given below are the online English teacher requirements for teaching English online –

Native English speaking educator or non-native jobs.
Get a high-speed laptop with stable internet access. Several get smartphones and tablets.
The absolute must-haves are a laptop or computer, a webcam and a good headset. Your students must be able to clearly see you and listen to you. Most laptops have webcams built into them, but others would not be up to standard for online teaching. This means you will need to invest in a decent external webcam that you can easily plug-in. You also have to ensure that the lighting is good. When it comes to headsets, it is really worth paying for a good one.
A Bachelor’s degree is usually necessary. However, for college students also, there are some opportunities.
Have the capacity to receive payment via Paytm, bank wiring or transfer, or Paypal.
If you are teaching them, you have to deal with unhinged parents from time to time.
Be committed and passionate while teaching. For every lesson, you teach, maintain a positive attitude and a smiling face.

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Preferred qualities for teaching English online

Experience with teaching in a learning environment or teaching experience online
Received a teaching qualification or a degree from a university. Certified with TEFL, TESOL or CELTA.

Bonus qualities for teaching English online

Capable and prepared to work irregular hours or on weekends. This depends on where you reside, and where your students come from.
Have a professional look that would look good in a resume profile, the first introduction video, interview, and classes.

If you have the qualities mentioned above, you could be able to teach English online with great success. Approximately one-third to half of the teaching platforms look for teachers who have some experience. You must not shy away when you first attempt this. There are establishments that do not need you to get a degree to teach online. But, if you wish to earn beyond the average amount, possessing a TEFL Certificate is a must-have.

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Can you teach English online without a degree?

One of the most frequently asked questions is – Can you teach English online without a degree?

Yes, English can be taught online without a degree when you look in the right places. If you do not have a degree and would like to stand out for potential recruiters, the right approach of doing that is to demonstrate that you have specialized in online English tutor jobs. You must show that you have had the experience of teaching. If you do not have much previous online teaching experience, the Specialized TEFL Certification in Teaching English Online is an excellent opportunity to gain expertise and even highlight online class recordings that you have been trained in.

To discover opportunities to teach English without a degree, check out a work board that concentrates on online English tutor jobs.

Tips for teaching English online

1. Be well-versed with technology

This is fresh to everyone, so be ready to solve problems and let your students know that you are working upon this. Take an hour to get familiar with the technology. Most online teaching companies are currently offering further training. Your students must be clear on where they could go for technical assistance (good digital technology will contain support services). Keep contact details readily accessible. If they approach you, be prepared to guide them well.

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2. Cultivate flexibility

Irrespective of whether it is a video chat that is not getting connected or assigned resource links that are not operating correctly, technology will eventually fail. Keep a fallback option for all technology-based assignments and evaluations. Be open about technology failure in your contact with students. For example, put in place a policy specifying the actions that students can take if they cannot submit assignments because of technical problems. To save time, do not be afraid to fix technical problems in real-time, like during synchronous discussions or real-time collaborative tasks.

3. Establish clear expectations for your online classes

The students are also new to online learning. Make sure that they understand how their grade will be ascertained in the course (participation often constitutes a much greater proportion of the grade than face-to-face classes). Set the response time expectations. For instance, you can make it very clear that you will be responding to emails within one business day. Often, students can expect you to respond to an email within a couple of hours, and disengage if you do not. Share with them resources on how to be an efficient online learner.

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4. Develop a community of active learners

Students will expect you to set the tone. Show passion and enthusiasm about teaching the course to relieve apprehension, anxiety and isolation between you and your students. Portray yourself interestingly by posting a welcome video and a biography. You can also put up pictures telling stories of what you are doing to stay active during social isolation. Links to news articles or video clips can also be added. Motivate each student to customize their homepage and spend some time inviting students to share details about what they have shared so far. Integrate instant messaging, webcam, blogging, and vlogging.

Ask questions that motivate participants to challenge each other and stimulate rich debate. Reply to the group as a whole instead of channelling all responses outside the community to individual participants.

5. Build and maintain a good online presence

Welcome all students to online learning and reassure them using video where possible. Make use of video chat while communicating with students instead of the standard instant message. Let the students talk by starting discussions in the chat forum, and then providing simple, frequent and open answers to questions. Use non-verbal communication like emojis, for example. Fill out your profile with professional and personal characteristics.

Introduction to e-learning methods

6. Stimulate reflection and using effective asynchronous activities

Return to topics posted which have not been addressed completely and encourage discussion and reflection. Keep a tab on participation and contact students personally if they either do not participate or take over conversations without allowing other people to contribute.

7. Maintain a good balance of active leadership observation

As the learning community manager, you will start the course. When the course advances, the burden must be gradually passed to the learner community. The steps of building the online community under point 4 will help with this. You must also gradually withdraw from the communal discussions further.

8. Consistently ask for feedback to avoid misinterpretation

Check-in and see how things progress with your students. To evaluate attitudes, workload, and problems, you may carry out formal or informal surveys. Make corrections to the course as and when necessary. To test learner comprehension of content, usage of ad hoc quizzes can be done.

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9. Check resources and applications often

All links, resources, modules, and tasks are checked regularly. Online content can change or switch, which can result in disengagement. Assist students who have trouble navigating links to courses or managing material that spans different web pages. Design the website navigation process which is not embedded in the course. Show them how to manage navigation tracking properly when changing sites.

Did you know? The salary for teaching English online varies between INR 11,420 to INR 76,140 per month.

Teaching English online strategies for ELL and ESL learners

There are several strategies for teaching English online. You could encounter quite a few challenges. A sizable majority of students in India are English Language Learners (ELL). These are students who begin with high-intensity, day-to-day English classes. However, most of them are absorbed into traditional classrooms within one year, long before their English language skills are deemed to be competent. English as a Second Language (ESL) support is also required by another major chunk of the Indian student population. More time will have to be dedicated to making them proficient in English. ELL strategies and ESL teaching strategies are quite essential for you to know.

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1. Visual guidance

ELL students have a tougher time understanding spoken language. One of the most effective ELL strategies would be to write guidelines on the board wherever possible. These even include simple directions for classroom procedures. It is necessary to diagram complex concepts or support them with images. Modelling the sequence of steps or demonstrating to students what a finished product must look like could help them understand better. Sometimes, all they need is visual guidance. Not only does this type of non-linguistic representation boost awareness for ELL students, it will also help them better comprehend concepts.

2. Incorporate more group tasks

Less teacher-led, full-class teaching, and smaller groups, where students can learn the language in a more personal, lower-risk environment with their peers is ideal. It makes for one of the best ESL teaching strategies. If ELL students appear for your class along with a resource teacher, ensure that you use the abilities of that person. In many cases, the resource teacher does not have to work exclusively with ESL students. They could work with smaller groups that happen to involve these students. This could enhance the teacher-student ratio and provide more time for the children to practice.

3. Acknowledge the “silent period”

Numerous new language learners would pass through a period of silence during which they will speak less, if at all. It is necessary that you do not coerce them to talk unless they want to. Several students who are from different cultures wish to be perfect when they talk. So, they will not share until they believe that they are at a perfect point. The knowledge that this is a normal phase in the acquisition of a second language can help in relieving any pressure you might feel towards making them speak fast.

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4. Leave room for scaffolding with the native language

Though it is a controversial topic within the language-learning group, it is gaining acceptance for students to utilize their first language (L1) in the second language (L2) classrooms. If a student is still quite new to a language, matching him with other students who speak his mother tongue is alright. A few students fear speaking anything at all for fear of sounding stupid or simply not knowing the words to be used. Allowing them to clarify things or pose questions in their first language tends to make them relaxed and feel like they belong to the class.

It is not only limited to the spoken language. If they can, then let them write assignments in their first language. There is some evidence to show that permitting second-language learners to pre-write and brainstorm in L1 leads to better quality of writing in L2.

4. Make use of sentence frames

All students have to work with academic discussions, not just the English language learners. Sentence frames, which are partially completed sentences such as “I disagree with what ____ said because …,” show the students how to formally structure language. Leave these posted in your online classroom at a highly visible location. Students must be able to refer to them for discussions and while writing. However, to really understand this kind of language, it must become a regular part of the class.

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5. Pre-teach as often as possible

If you are to read a particular article next week, send a copy of it to the ESL students now. If you plan on showing a video on YouTube tomorrow, send a link to your ESL students today. Any opportunity that you could give these students to preview material will improve the odds of them understanding it on the day you present it to everybody else. The children will feel so empowered if they have had a chance to look at the material in advance.

6. Pick out vocabulary that is culturally unique

For most of these children, there is a lack of their background knowledge. Teaching certain vocabulary words straight away is important. Provide them with videos that show what it looks like to toss pizza dough, show images of a jukebox or a rack of clothes – things which are not common in their own language. One way to distinguish for ELL students is to consider the entire list of terms that you will teach for a unit. If you think that an ELL student might be overwhelmed by such an extensive list, omit those that are not crucial to understanding the bigger subject at hand.

7. Learn the cultural backgrounds of your students

Not taking the time to pronounce your student’s name accurately or to identify the country of origin of a student is a type of microaggression. This is a small, subtle insult that expresses hostility to certain cultures. It is necessary to make a commitment to be someone who tries to get these aspects right. When you identify the group a student belongs to, proceed to learn about the religious and cultural traditions of the students. If he/she comes from a culture that views eye contact with adults as insulting, you cannot force him/her to maintain eye contact during your online class.

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8. Jigsaw listening

Jigsaw Listening is an exercise in which every student only has a single part of a set of directions. They have to work with a group to build a complete set. The instructions may be given in pictures by the instructor. It can be done in writing or through an audiotape. Suppose the students have to perform an experiment with Queen Anne’s lace to examine how flowers retain water.

One of the following instructions could be provided to every student on a paper slip.

Pick a flower from the vase kept on the table.
Take a tub and fill it with water.
Take from the table a bottle of food colouring.
In the tub, put four drops of food colouring.
Place the flower in the tub.
Mention the name of your team on the tub.

Afterwards, every student reads his or her instructions while others listen. Following this, students will explore how best to get directions in place. This interaction can only be finalized by a combination of listening and direction-compliance.

9. Use graphic organizers and charts

Charts and graphic organizers like KWLH (what I know, what I want to learn, what I learned and how I learned what I learned), Venn diagrams, and timelines help students concentrate on their listening. For instance, students viewing an Amazon jungle video can complete a KWLH chart.

This can be done before watching the film. After watching it, a Venn diagram could be made.

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Online teaching companies

Some of the top companies for teaching English online are –

Victory Tutorials
Whitehat Education Technology, Pvt. Ltd.
Shaw Academy
Little Indigo Kids Academy Pvt Ltd
Tharakans Academy
Skillyukt
Imperial Edu Academy
Vedic Tree
Tutor Beings
TutorComp

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on teaching English online

1. Can I teach English online without a degree?

A: Yes, you can teach English online without a degree. The best approach to do this would be to get a TEFL certification.

2. Can you make a living teaching English online?

A: Yes, you can make a good living teaching English online. You can receive a salary between INR 11,420 – INR 76,140 per month.

3. How much does it cost for a TEFL certification?

A: A minimum online TEFL certification can cost around INR 15233 (USD 200). Most TEFL jobs will require you to complete a more advanced TEFL certification that costs between INR 30,466 – INR 38,082 (USD 400 – USD 500).

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How to write a great cover letter for teacher jobs?

Remote work

If you are applying for a job as a teacher, an outstanding cover letter can make a massive impact on recruitment. Whether you are a fresher, an elementary teacher, a substitute teacher, a preschool teacher, a high school teacher, or even an ESL teacher, your cover letter should be in that way to highlight relevant experience and past achievements.

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What is a cover letter?

Writing a cover letter is almost a part of every job application you make. A cover letter is a single-page letter demonstrating your skills and previous achievements to the organisation for the job you are applying for. A well-written cover letter should encourage the person reading it to read your resume.

In simple words, a cover letter is the letter of introduction accompanying another document such as a CV or a resume. It is a tool to introduce yourself in a personal and memorable way during a job application. When you start to write a cover letter, the best way to plan the content of the letter based on the requirements of the job you are applying for. A well-crafted cover letter goes beyond your resume, present information like some of your greatest career and life achievements.

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What to include in a cover letter?

A cover letter should entail the following.

1. How to start

Greet the personnel and briefly introduce yourself. Like, how excited you are and what do you have to apply for the relevant position. Mention the merits of the school you are applying for. Later, you can mention the details of your area of expertise and the background of your education and work experience.

2. Highlight your achievements

Include the details of your past experience of your personal life and in your career as a teacher. Highlight personal achievements that provide you with a sense of pride. Also, highlight the examples of your achievements as a teacher. For example, if your students have secured excellent grades in the examination, if you have received a teaching award, etc.

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3. Training or certifications

If you have undergone similar training or certifications relevant to a teaching career, it is highly important to mention it in the cover letter. Most of the teaching jobs nowadays have a requirement for specific training and certifications. Your cover letter should be used to demonstrate that you possess what’s required for the job.

4. Emphasise past experience

A cover letter should not be a copy of the resume. It is helpful to include the details of your experience. Mention them in a quantified way. For example, briefly explain how many years you have taught. Include the details on your teaching experience if you are new to the career.

5. Related work outside the classroom

You need to highlight your relevant experience outside the classroom, especially for persons who have limited experience working as a teacher. For example, if you have non-teaching and volunteer experience that involves working/associating with children.

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6. Relating the letter with job requirements

Relating the cover letter with current job requirements is a key element. A cover letter should be drafted in a way that would relate the cover letter with the company’s job requirements. This helps the recruitment officials to relate their requirements with your ability.

How to write a cover letter teacher?

While we have seen what to include in a cover letter, here, we will elaborately discuss how to write a cover letter teacher.

1. Personalised introduction

Your primary goal is to get a job teaching as like others applying for this open position. The cover letter should be in a way to make sure that your name and qualifications are as memorable as possible. This requires you to engage the reader upfront. Make sure that you address the email to someone specific. While some companies list a specific name while some do not. If it is not specified, well, dig out the researching skill in you to see who will be on the receiving end.

It is also important to address in the right way. Too professional and too casual isn’t recommended. Make sure that you also treat the email as a regular letter when you are submitting your resume. The examples of usage of good salutation are as follows.

Dear Ms. Julie,

Dear Principal, Andrew

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2. The pitch

You are an educator, and you teach. This is the pitch in its simplest form and the cover letter should be used to colour the resume. There might be other openings in different teaching roles and you should be specific about the role you are applying for. There might be an opening for the English high teacher, and somehow your application gets routed for the Elementary English teacher. Specificness ensures that you will to the right place.

It is important to remain highly organised while beginning the cover letter. The pitch should be professional and should briefly explain your relevant experiences. Avoid being casual while beginning the letter. Like ‘I would be grateful for the opportunity. Kindly go through my attached resume and revert if you have any questions’. This one and this kind of sentence should be completely ignored.

Who you are? What kind of previous experience do you bring in? Why do we need to select you? These are the questions your cover letter should answer for and it also should not be the autobiography about your life. It should provide some context to your resume.

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3. Maintain a good format

The cover letter should be clear, crisp, and easy to read. To maintain a good format, you need to ensure the following.

Standard font: This is not the time to try all font styles. It is better to maintain a single font throughout the letter

Font size and bold characters: The font size also should be the same throughout the letter. Headings can be in bigger size and highlighted in bold letters.

Precise: A cover letter should be short and precise. As said earlier, it should not be an autobiography of your life. Maximum, it should not exceed a single page and even a full page is definitely pushing it.

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4. Body of the letter

This is the key part of the letter and you should describe the most important qualifications to show how good and why you are a match for the job and the organisation. You do not want to only mention the skills you learned or acquired but you also have to show that you possess them. Engaging and describing the experiences of how you grew your skills, mentioned the positions you held and the places you worked will help you. Along with explaining your skills, you should also describe how your experience with the skill is unique.

The body of the letter should also clearly specify how your previous experience would reflect on the current job requirements. Hence it is also important to make strong connections between the qualifications and the position requirements. Instead of using one large block of texts, use a few paragraphs and this will help the reader to quickly scan and go through your cover letter.

5. Strong finish

Always have a closing that leaves space to follow you. ‘I would love to continue my career as an educator with Mayfield Public School, with its repute for putting teaching first. Please don’t hesitate to let me know if you have any additional questions or if there is additional information I can provide. I look forward to hearing more about this job opportunity. This is how a cover letter should end. A strong closing is essential as it is one of the few remaining elements between the resume and the cover letter.

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6. Closing

As an introduction, the closing should also be professional. ‘Let me know, thanks, just name without greetings are brusque, informal and too abrupt’. Sincerely, regards and best wishes are some examples of good closings.

Tips: Use a cover letter example and template as a guide to yours, but do not simply copy the text provided.

Sample Teacher cover letter

The cover letter even for most of the different teaching jobs remains the same. The below mentioned cover letter can ideally be used for all kinds of teaching jobs. Let us have a look over teacher cover letter examples – new teacher cover letter, elementary teacher cover letter, special education teacher cover letter, substitute teacher cover letter, remote teacher cover letter; common one for all.

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Dear Principal Ritika,

I was delighted to hear that Montfort Public School needed a new Maths teacher. All this life as a teacher. I have been passionate about my responsibility to inspiring pupil’s interests in Mathematics and ensuring that I bring the best out of the students.

Montfort Public School has earned a positive reputation for celebrating academic excellence, using technology as a learning tool and celebrating diversity. It would be an honour to teach your students that maintains high educational standards providing students with opportunities for personal growth.

I’m an MEd and MA Mathematics degree graduate. I have student teaching experience on eight-ninth and eleventh grade in both metropolitan and cosmopolitan cities currently working as a current senior professional for Frontline Public School. I also have vast experience in applying appropriate teaching and assessment methodologies and I am an expert at designing, developing and preparing teaching material. For more than 11 years, I provided creative lesson plans, effective classroom management, detailed student evaluations and instructional delivery.

Apart from teaching, I’m also an enthusiastic volunteer. I also founded and grew the school’s post-school technology society, an innovative program that covered various technology areas like internet security, game creation, Photoshop tutorials, etc. The program becomes popular that it was the school’s one of the best after-school program that was consistently filled to capacity.

I believe my passion for community engagement and previous teaching experiences make me an ideal candidate for a teaching position at your school. Currently, I’m looking for a change, and I would love to continue my career as an educator with your school, with its reputation for putting teaching in the first place. Please don’t hesitate to let me know if you have any additional questions or if there is additional information I can provide. I look forward to hearing more about this job opportunity.

Thank you for your interest and consideration. Look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

Rahman

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How to use a sample cover letter for teacher jobs?

A cover letter helps you to prepare the layout of the letter and what elements you need to include like introductions, body paragraphs, etc.

Along with helping you with the layout, cover letter examples show what kind of content you should include and document and what type of tone and language to use. The cover letter should be tailored to fit your own work history and the job for which you are applying.

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FAQs

1. What to include in a cover letter?

A: Some of the inclusions in a cover letter are as follows – a brief introduction, highlight your achievements, training and certifications, past experiment and other related work.

2. Should you include references in a cover letter?

A: As we have seen earlier, a cover letter is to set your job application apart by convincing the employer that you have the required skill set and experience. In general, it is not required to mention the references in a cover letter.

3. Is the general teacher job cover letter suitable for all other kinds?

A: A general teacher job cover letter, most of the time, is suitable for all other kinds. There is almost no need for a specific cover letter like a new teacher cover letter, elementary teacher cover letter, special education teacher cover letter, substitute teacher cover letter, remote teacher cover letter, etc.

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