As more schools and districts across the world embrace virtual and online learning as part of their programs on a more permanent basis, we thought it only right as one of the leaders in online learning to offer some tips to district leaders and teachers for how to create, in some cases, an even more engaging environment than if teachers and learners were physically face to face.  

For our  strategies to  increase student engagement and connection in your online classes,  we turned to two of Outschool’s popular partner organizations, ReadyAl and Pretzel Kids Yoga. Here’s what they have to say:

Setting the foundation 

A great starting point in providing engaging instruction is to set clear learning expectations for your class. This can be done in the class description or in the Learning Goals section of your class page. When you set clear objectives for a class, it leads to better results for you, the learner, and the adults signing them up.

Once your Learning Goals are set follow these tips to build engagement and connect with your online learners.

Create a healthy and connected online classroom

The folks at Pretzel Kids Yoga are making learning fun while also promoting learner wellbeing online. After adopting their in-person yoga classes to a virtual environment, here are some things that have worked well for them. 

• Start with a solid plan

Whether learning happens in person or online, it’s important to be clear on what students are learning and how they’ll learn it. For example, Pretzel Kids Yoga starts each class with a centering activity and pranayama (breathing technique). Although they can't do this in a circle, they use the gallery video view as a rectangle.  From there, they move into a fun, engaging breathing practice. Then, they begin the movement part of our Pretzel Kids class.

Although the class is happening online, sticking to a structure that works (online or in-person) helps make class successful.

• Ditch the screen

Although the class is being taught on video, Pretzel Kids Yoga encourages taking kids away from their screens by asking them to stand, back away and participate in class, using the teachers' voices as their guides. This allows kids to destress and feel good in their bodies.

• Get to know the kids

It's important to watch the kids closely and check in on them often to offer guidance throughout the class. Regardless of whether they are practicing a set of yoga poses together or playing a game adapted to video chat, the kids stay engaged.

• Empower kids to be leaders 

Even if your class is not a health & wellness class, you can still consider opportunities to have kids get moving as part of a learning activity or a brain break. The kids love this. If you can invite kids to share, demonstrate, or lead their classmates at some point during the activity, it’s a way to engage not only the leader but the other kids, too.

3 tips for maximizing engagement

The team at ReadyAI shared these three tips for maximizing engagement while teaching online.

1. Use digital tools to make learning interactive

Mixing games and interactive demos with lectures is a great way to engage learners. Tools like Kahoot! add variety and offer learners a chance to discuss their findings with the teachers and each other.

Ready Al includes coding challenges towards the end of our classes. These use the concepts discussed during the class. This works for two reasons:

1. It offers a self-assessment opportunity. When students anticipate a coding challenge, they know to pay attention in class because they'll need to use the knowledge to solve a problem later.

2. Students are encouraged to screen share and present their solution, and usually when one student shares, the others want to share, too.

Even if you don’t use competitions, setting up a clear end-of-class goal can help keep learners focused during class.

3. Leverage real-world projects and problems

Most ReadyAI classes end with a student-driven project. Students come up with an idea of how ReadyAI can improve our lives and code a demo in the programming framework. When students work on their own ideas they tend to be more engaged and ask more questions.

How can you make the skills and content taught in your class relevant to students’ lives or the world in general? If they can use the lessons from your class to solve a real problem or create something, it can help them be more engaged.

Fundamentals are the same, online or in-person

The amazing part about teaching online may be the parts that don’t change at all when compared to an in-person classroom. It’s still important to set clear learning objectives, focus on keeping the students engaged, and make learning fun.

By focusing on the learners’ experiences, and not getting too caught up in the fact that you’re not together in person, you’ll be more likely to connect with your students, convey your own genuine interest in the subject matter, and keep learners coming back to your classes again and again.

What do you think makes for a successful and engaging classroom environment? Comment below and learn more about Outschool here.