Online learning is the new norm, which means it’s time to mix things up! Here are three tech tools you can use to keep online learning current. Adobe Spark Adobe Spark is a web- and mobile-based tool that allows users to design visual content in the form of posts, videos, and web pages. Adobe Spark has three components: spark post, spark video, and spark page. Spark post creates a visual storyboard that represents what the…
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Perhaps the most essential part of learning online is connecting with and encouraging online students. Merely copying and pasting the course content into a learning management system cannot be the extent of online course development. Encouragement can come in many forms, including positive feedback on assignments, emails, phone calls, and video messages. To encourage online learners, teachers can create short video messages that can be used to help students persevere through academic and personal challenges.…
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With online learning being the new norm, cheating on online tests has become increasingly worrying for teachers and parents. Even without expensive virtual proctoring tools, however, there are many ways that instructors can use the inherent features within school’s Learning Management System (LMS) to combat cheating during online examinations. Here are a few ideas to decrease cheating on online tests. 1. Create questions that require higher order thinking. Instead of having students respond to questions…
Read More »In the wake of stay at home orders and economic collapse, many online students–despite being well versed in Zoom, familiar with the format of online discussions, and already adjusted to learning online–are starting to show strain. Even in the best of times, it is difficult for students to maintain enthusiasm and passion about their learning, but in our era of coronavirus, it is now almost impossible. Compassion in online learning is now more important than…
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What is it that makes meaningful dialogue so elusive in online courses? Some practices in online course design and discussion facilitation can actually encourage superficial dialogue. Faculty grading and feedback that require too much formality of language can scare students into virtual silence, sticking to exactly what the text says or saying what they think the professor wants to hear rather than finding and using their unique online voice. Focusing on lower-level writing issues (such…
Read More »Supporting students online requires different strategies than that of in-person teaching. Getting it right typically involves a good deal of testing and modification given the wide array of design formats and technology tools available, not to mention the varying needs of students, many of whom are underprepared for their sudden foray into online learning. In online courses, certain student challenges tend to come up time and again, which disrupts learning or impedes completing coursework on…
Read More »The standard blueprint for online student discussions posts is to write an initial response, then reply to two or three of your classmates’ posts. It gets the job done, but we can do better. Discussions in an online course play a vital role in creating substantive interactions, aiming to capture the spirit of discourse in face-to-face settings. Initial posts can be counterintuitive—in essence, they require students to complete small writing assignments individually before giving other…
Read More »Due to COVID-19, unprecedented numbers of US schools have been forced to transition to virtual learning. It has been an interesting change for everyone involved, from students to teachers to parents. At this point, you or your child may be falling behind due to the increased lack of individualized attention and the decreased opportunity to ask questions and/or collaborate with peers. In this article, we explore a few free resources available to high schoolers in…
Read More »Need Tutoring Services While Traveling This Winter? Online tutoring can be a great opportunity for your child to receive the same tutoring services anywhere in the world, any time of day. Whether you are working on ISEE , SSAT, SAT, or ACT prep, our test prep tutors utilize Skype/FaceTime, as well as https://www.join.me/ to maximize instruction and screen share with your child. For K-12 Academic Subject Tutoring, students can engage with tutors using these interfaces and also play online games that support their academic growth. If…
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Recent studies have shown that there are several benefits to being bilingual. Learning a second language could give your child a serious advantage in conceptual thinking. It may even broaden their perspectives and understanding of the world. Improving The Executive Function According to an article put out by Psychology Today, one of the several benefits to being bilingual is it improves brain activity functions. The executive function, for example, which is the control system of…
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