Tips to Make Distance Learning More Effective

by Manoj Singh Educational counselor

All of us have witnessed the sudden transition from physical schooling to distance learning due to the corona pandemic. Since this transition has happened overnight, many professors are finding it difficult to cope up with the technology and tools to ensure good learning of students for various courses 5-year law program, bba, mba. btech etc.

There are a lot of challenges that come with distance education mode. Therefore, to be successful in a remote setup, you need to follow some tips that work for almost everyone.

#1 Ask your students to participate

Motivate the students to attend the online classes and finish their assignments on time. They just need internet access for this. It will help if you put in extra efforts to motivate the recalcitrant students. Clearly state the goals and expectations to your students. Play on the students’ FOMO (Fear of Missing Out). Tell them how showing up every day in the class will improve their learning outcomes and their progress.

#2 Focus on delivering good quality content

Let us imagine the students have followed what you said and they are attending your class regularly. Next is, think about what you will teach and how. Include good strategies, skills, audios, videos, podcasts, images, etc., to make the class more interactive. This will also enhance the quality of your content. Finally, ask questions to engage them and force them to think deeply about a topic.

#3 Keep the lessons simple

Simplicity is the best policy, they say. Simple and clear directions and expectations from a lesson plan are essential to set the mood and tonality of the classroom. Use PowerPoint presentations to explain the lengthy texts in small chunks. Use Google docs to collaborate with the students after the class. Ask them to work on their assignments and post questions in the discussion forum. Focus on tools that will help you reiterate what you have already taught in the class. This will lead o good learning outcomes.

#4 Connect old content to new content

Professors and teachers need not teach entirely from the new material that might have been produced in the face of the current corona pandemic. During your class, it would be best if you can connect the old content to the new one so that students don’t feel lost and can understand the content better. Try to build on the old concepts that have already been taught. Provide ample examples while discussing a new topic or skills, or concept. If possible, demonstrate the new content and information via videos because visual learning is the best.

#5 Teach new information in brief packets

Don’t just bombard the students with new information and content. Limit the new information to a brief amount. Teach small topics in one session; otherwise, the student engagement will drop. Teach for 15-20 minutes and take a small break of 5mins before continuing with another 15-20 minutes. Psychologists also say if you come back to the same information, later on, it is retained by the students better. This is called the “spacing effect” and it boosts learning.

#6 Hold interactive classes

One-sided listening can do more harm than you think. Students might feel disinterested in the lessons and classes. Provide opportunities where they can be heard, and they can proactively participate in the classroom fun and learning. For example, give them brief quizzes and then discuss them in the class. Keep asking questions during the lecture. This technique will help the students absorb and retain the lesson for a more extended time period.

By applying these beneficial techniques, you can improve remote and distance learning. These techniques are already being practised by Lingaya’s University distance education programmes, including their 5-year law program.

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Created on Aug 21st 2021 02:24. Viewed 366 times.

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