For those of us in the Education and Training sector, we should be preparing for the possible disruption to employer site visits, 1-1 tutorials, exams and other assessments and make sure we have a digital learning contingency plan. Do you have one?
By adopting digital technology it can generate up to 20% higher revenue at 30% less cost.
Today, I was looking forward to walking into a classroom and being greeted by a room full of smiling learners who are eager to learn and excited for the day ahead. However, my scheduled visit to a local employer to support Encompass learners working towards the Level 5 Operations/Department Manger apprenticeship has been cancelled. So, what plans are in place to help continue their programme of learning?
- I have video conferencing meetings setup; where some learners do not have these tools or facilities – a telephone meeting is planned and email is used;
- An e-portfolio is used to set assessments and action plans
- As a CMI strategic partner, Encompass can access additional platforms including Management Direct for learners to continue their learning journey and log their off the job / CPD.
What does teaching look like when our learners are not sat directly in front of us? What does it really mean to teach remotely? How do you inspire, manage, care for, and engage your students whilst you’re sat in your own home and they are in theirs? It can be difficult and daunting to find new ways of working in these times of change, especially when you are pushed out of your comfort zone and regular routine.
To help you deliver an uninterrupted experience for your learners through virtual and remote learning, I have shared a few tips:
4 tips to make the most of remote learning and deliver an uninterrupted student experience
- Take the first step – decide on your digital platform such as Microsoft Teams but make sure to remove distractions such as switching off any of the tools which are not needed; test and learn – add the learners (those who do not have Teams can be added as a guest) then make sure they understand the basic functions.
- Prepare your workspace – setup your room in a clear environment that will allow you to be productive throughout the day, preferably where doors can be closed to reduce noise background; good lighting so if you are recording any learning content the room is well lit and there is a balance between both natural and electrical lighting; test the audio and video quality – if you are using webcam test the quality and the positioning of it.
- Encourage learner collaboration – Teams provides the perfect platform to communicate effectively with your learners. It allows peer-to-peer or teacher-to-student chat, collaboration, video calls, and online meetings; it stores chats and files securely and the search bar allows the user to quickly find what they need; digital questioning and assessment can be done by using Quizzes in Microsoft Forms.
- Equip your learners for the future digital workplace – we need a differentiated approach to remote learning; give learners the tools so you model a growth mindset. Make sure you cater for all abilities – start simple with sharing files for learners to access then explore the more advanced tools such as live lessons. If you feel nervous at your first attempt then you can switch off the camera.
Melisa Money - Directive Training Limited
melisa@directivetraining.co.uk
www.directivetraining.co.uk
C4DI, 31-33 Queen Street, Hull HU1 1UU
Tel: 07980 259686
#remoteworking #covid19 #safeguarding #collaboration #cpd #digitaltechnology
