Step 1: Create Your Virtual Classroom
Note: The following tutorials offer instructions for those using a laptop or desktop computer.
The first step is to log on to Facebook and set-up your Facebook Group. (Tip: If you are managing several classes/sections, think about your group names carefully so it will be easy for you to find them later.)
Here’s how to do it:
Step 2: Get Your Students to Join Your Virtual Classroom.
If you have an existing messenger group (or any way to contact your students), share the link with the group and invite them to join. If you have one, just assign your class beadle to do this for you!
Step 3: Set-up Your Activities
For Facebook Groups, you assign a learning material or activity just like a STATUS POST on your Facebook wall. Think of each post as an activity that students can do in class (e.g., Listen to a Lecture, Answer a Question, etc.).
Here Are Some Activities You Can Have Students Do:
Read/Watch/Listen and Reflect
Instead of the usual lecture or reading assignment, here are some alternative learning experiences you can design for your students. Their goal is the acquisition of knowledge (some of us call this “input”) – but we’ve added “reflect” to make sure that it’s not just about getting information, but processing it as well.
Let’s break it down! Here’s what’s in this post:
- Instructions (ex. Read this article on __, or watch this video about __)
- A prompt or question to help them process the material and provide you with feedback about what they learned. (ex. After watching the video, share about your answer to the following question: ____)
Here are types questions or prompts that you may want to consider:
a. Check for understanding – ask a question that will confirm if they really understood the content
b. Connect to context – ask them to relate the content to their personal or professional lives.
c. Try it out – if the content teaches a particular skill, you might want to ask a question or give a prompt that will let students actually do something to practice what they have learned.
3. Give a deadline – since they will be given a period of time to do it, you have to help set the pace and expectations. (ex. Do this by: March 11,4pm)
Discuss a Question, Prompt, or Image
These activities can replace a typical class discussion–and more. If you ask every single student to post a response, then you get to “hear” from every student. You may even want to suggest that they read one another’s comments and respond to them. The goal is to provide more opportunities for your students to reflect, as well as to interact among themselves.
Let’s break it down! Here’s what’s in this post:
- Pose a question or a prompt for students to think about and discuss. Students may respond by posting a text, image/video, or link.
- Ask students to respond to at least one other classmate – This cues them to read one another’s posts.
- You can include an interesting image or video to accompany your post.
- Set a deadline – For example: Please respond by March 11, 4:00 pm.
Vote in a Poll
These activities are a low-stakes way of collecting your students’ opinions. It’s a great way to start a topic, or to synthesize learning at the end.
Let’s break it down! Here’s what’s in this post:
- Pose a question, issue, or situation that you would like students to think about and vote on.
- Indicate the choices that students can choose from.
- Don’t forget to set a deadline.
*Since this is an activity that students will do quickly, it would be good to follow it up with a READ/WATCH/LISTEN or DISCUSS activity.
Submit an Assignment
This task is often given at the end of a unit/lesson and replaces your typical assessment. Assignments can be submitted as documents, images, videos, etc. These allow for a variety of things you can ask students to do and document.
Let’s break it down! Here’s what’s in this post:
- Post the instructions for the assignment
- Attach a template/worksheet or other documents (ex. rubrics) when applicable (add a file)
- Set a reasonable deadline depending on the work required on the assignment.
- You wouldn’t want students to submit their assignments as a public comment so that everyone else gets to see it. Ask your students to submit their assignments to you individually through Messenger or via email.
These suggestions should give you some initial ideas about what your online teaching can look like. One key idea is to make sure that when we talk about online learning, we are thinking primarily about the learning experiences of our students, and not just the resources we want to make available to them. One more thing you might need to remember is: Make sure to communicate with your students (to clarify instructions, remind them of deadlines, etc.). The sudden lack of a regular face-to-face class can be a jolting experience for both you and your students.
Do you have any question or other tips for online teachers? Send them to us at salt@ateneo.edu and we’ll help you share them with a wider audience.
Happy online teaching! And keep healthy!
+AMDG