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Let’s face it: Digital learning is not going anywhere.
We all know that the Covid-19 pandemic has dramatically changed the educational landscape. The fiscal repercussions of the pandemic have caused
many schools worldwide to struggle to maintain their teachers’ and staff’s jobs. With education institutions being forced to close their doors for
the sake of students’ safety in schools, the need for teaching online as a substitute for traditional teaching has seen a drastic rise.
This shift has left many educators blindsided, and scrambling to find a good solution.
HOWEVER: The move to teaching online is in fact a good thing.
Studies have shown that online learning actually works better for students. Unlike in a traditional classroom setting, they are able to learn at
their own pace, re-do what they struggle with, skip what they already know, and take breaks when they need to.
Some research indicates that online students are able to learn faster, requiring
40-60% less time to learn than students learning
in a traditional classroom setting.
Teaching online is also a great opportunity for professionals looking for a career change during the pandemic.
Now we know why the move to teaching online is a must – so how to get started?
What works in offline learning does not necessarily translate well to teaching online and teaching from home. There’s many ways in which you as a
teacher are restricted by your screen and physical distance from your students. This may be especially difficult if you don’t yet have any
experience teaching, or teaching online. On the other hand, starting with remote teaching also opens up many opportunities.
The key is to know how to hack teaching online.
Here’s our favorite, easy-to-follow tips to get you started:
1. Emphasize your experience and educational background
The people who are deciding whether or not they want to learn from you will want to see credentials. This is true for individual teachers just as much as it is for institutions. What makes you qualified to be their teacher? But don’t worry if you are aiming to teach without a degree in education: What’s important is to emphasize any experience that showcases your relevant skills, such as leadership, coaching, interpersonal skills, etc. Maybe you used to tutor students after school? Maybe you have experience working with people and have a talent to inspire and motivate? And don’t forget: Your passion for teaching can make up for any lack in experience and education.
2. Consider how you want to present yourself
What kind of teacher or school are you or do you want to be? Cool? Approachable? Professional? As a remote educator, you will also be advertising
for yourself online. Chances are, potential students will judge your book by its cover when looking for places to learn, and you want to make sure
you leave a positive impression. So invest in good profile pictures, write an introduction, and have a presentable web presence.
If you’re teaching online, you’ll want to look professional, but approachable, and you’ll want to communicate your personality. Also convey your
teaching style! Do you like to use props? Show them! And don’t forget to communicate with your visual background!
3. Gather relevant resources
If you want to stand out from the crowd as an online educator, you need to offer your students unique value. This is the best way to do it:
- Assemble high-quality materials, tools and apps
- Ensure extraordinary pedagogy
- Make use of e-learning platforms to streamline your processes
- Add a personal touch
When it comes to teaching, oftentimes the HOW is more important than the WHAT!
Need inspiration for high-quality teaching online resources for English for Specific Purposes and English for the workplace?
English4Work takes care of all of your online teaching needs!
4. Offer off-peak time slots
As an educator with a new online presence, you should make yourself available as much as possible. If not all slots are booked, clear them, but you need to figure out when most suitable clients want to have a session with you. Many people like to stick to traditional 9 to 5 availability. Take advantage of that and be the teacher who’s available when your clients are. Especially if they are part of the workforce. That’s another perk of teaching online – connecting with your students is easier than ever!
5. Ask for feedback
Nobody is better suited to help you improve your courses than your students. Listen to constructive criticism, especially as you are just
starting out teaching online. Chances are it will take some time to find your groove.
On top of that, happy students are much more likely to recommend your classes to others. You can even publish their reviews on your teacher
profile, social media, or website!
But most importantly of all, you want to make sure your students are getting the best experience possible! So don’t be shy to ask your students
what their ideal class looks like. The best teachers are those who are open to learning.
Are you looking to be a world-class online English educator too?
Register for a FREE DEMO,
and see what English4Work can do for you!