Meeting with Students
Click on these links to learn more about these ways to meet online with students. There are also suggestions below that will help you to have an effective session.
Click on these links to learn more about these ways to meet online with students. There are also suggestions below that will help you to have an effective session.
Suggestions
Suggestions
- Set clear expectations
Make sure students know how you expect them to behave. Do they have to raise their hands? Can they chat with each other? Talk about etiquette (see suggestions below). Remember that they can see what you are doing--and remind them that you can see them.
Make sure students know how you expect them to behave. Do they have to raise their hands? Can they chat with each other? Talk about etiquette (see suggestions below). Remember that they can see what you are doing--and remind them that you can see them.
- If it is the first time, give them an overview of what is what--maybe share screenshots ahead of time so they know what buttons do what. Be aware that it does look different on different devices.
- When you are speaking to the students, look at them straight on. You should be maintaining eye contact (even if you can't see each person't eyes.). The computer screen is their face. Look at it.
- Allow a little more time for people to respond. There may be a lag time due to the internet speed and other factors. Wait time is important in a lesson, but even more important when meeting online.
- Realize they might be recording the session and act accordingly. Some software allows you to turn off this feature, but students can find other ways to do it if they want to badly enough.
Video Conference Etiquette
Video Conference Etiquette
- Be polite to everyone in the group.
- Speak clearly.
- Keep movements of your body to a minimum. It is distracting to have someone moving around.
- Move and gesture slowly and naturally. There is no need to exaggerate your movements.
- Maintain eye contact
- Dress appropriately--you don't have to be "dressed up" but remember others can see you.
- Don't make distracting sounds. It is a good idea to have your microphone muted unless you are talking. don't wear noisy jewelry.
- You don't need to shout-but don't whisper, either. Use a normal tone of voice.
- Be courteous and do not interrupt other speakers.
- Avoid side conversations. They are rude and distract everyone from whoever has the floor.
- Use the mute button on the software-you don't cover the microphone.
Videos
Videos
I prefer to start meetings with both the host and participant videos on. This alleviates the, “Sally, turn on your camera” conversation that inevitably happens. Bonus: you get to see the smiling faces of your students or colleagues on camera!
I prefer to start meetings with both the host and participant videos on. This alleviates the, “Sally, turn on your camera” conversation that inevitably happens. Bonus: you get to see the smiling faces of your students or colleagues on camera!
Chat
Chat
When meeting with adults, it’s usually fine to leave the private chat feature on. However, when you’re meeting with students, this can be very distracting. Leave it off, and when you’re in the meeting choose to allow students to chat with “Everyone” or just the host. This means any message sent will be seen by all or just you if they select to message only the host. This may be helpful when you have a larger class to allow for more participation. Rather than having all the students unmute, you can have them post their answers in the chat.
When meeting with adults, it’s usually fine to leave the private chat feature on. However, when you’re meeting with students, this can be very distracting. Leave it off, and when you’re in the meeting choose to allow students to chat with “Everyone” or just the host. This means any message sent will be seen by all or just you if they select to message only the host. This may be helpful when you have a larger class to allow for more participation. Rather than having all the students unmute, you can have them post their answers in the chat.
Screen Share
Screen Share
One special setting is screen share. You may choose to set it up that just you (the host) may share their screen, or you can allow all participants to share. If you are hosting a Zoom meeting with multiple students, I recommend leaving the screen share to host only. However, if you are participating in a collaboration meeting with staff or meeting with a student or parent one on one, it may be better to allow screen share for all attendees. This setting can also be changed during the meeting.
One special setting is screen share. You may choose to set it up that just you (the host) may share their screen, or you can allow all participants to share. If you are hosting a Zoom meeting with multiple students, I recommend leaving the screen share to host only. However, if you are participating in a collaboration meeting with staff or meeting with a student or parent one on one, it may be better to allow screen share for all attendees. This setting can also be changed during the meeting.
Annotation
Annotation
Have you ever been in a meeting and had students randomly start drawing on the screen? Change the meeting setting to “only the user that is sharing may annotate”. This will save you a lot of stress and correcting behavior during meetings. Even in staff meetings, there isn’t a reason for the non-screen sharer to draw on the screen.
Have you ever been in a meeting and had students randomly start drawing on the screen? Change the meeting setting to “only the user that is sharing may annotate”. This will save you a lot of stress and correcting behavior during meetings. Even in staff meetings, there isn’t a reason for the non-screen sharer to draw on the screen.
Breakout Rooms
Breakout Rooms
If you have multiple teachers in a virtual class, consider turning on the breakout rooms setting. You may choose to have students randomly assigned to rooms, or you could differentiate and assign rooms based on abilities or students that work well together.
If you have multiple teachers in a virtual class, consider turning on the breakout rooms setting. You may choose to have students randomly assigned to rooms, or you could differentiate and assign rooms based on abilities or students that work well together.
Virtual Background
Virtual Background
Enabling virtual backgrounds is not only fun, it’s what’s best for kids! Some students may not feel comfortable showing their home learning space. That’s OK! Even teachers can have a blast appearing from Mars when teaching about the solar system or at the base of a volcano when you’re studying volcanic eruptions.
Enabling virtual backgrounds is not only fun, it’s what’s best for kids! Some students may not feel comfortable showing their home learning space. That’s OK! Even teachers can have a blast appearing from Mars when teaching about the solar system or at the base of a volcano when you’re studying volcanic eruptions.
Other Zoom Tips for Teachers
Other Zoom Tips for Teachers
The preceding tips talk about how to use Zoom settings, but there are other zoom tips for teachers that will help you use Zoom to support your students.
The preceding tips talk about how to use Zoom settings, but there are other zoom tips for teachers that will help you use Zoom to support your students.
Connect and Collaborate
Connect and Collaborate
Rather than always using Zoom to present new content, try it to connect and collaborate with your students. Use Zoom to play games like Kahoot or Quizizz. Play a round of “Show and Tell” where students share something important to them. Just take some time to chat with the class about how they are feeling. Building community can go a long way to help classroom behaviors online.
Rather than always using Zoom to present new content, try it to connect and collaborate with your students. Use Zoom to play games like Kahoot or Quizizz. Play a round of “Show and Tell” where students share something important to them. Just take some time to chat with the class about how they are feeling. Building community can go a long way to help classroom behaviors online.
Question Session
Question Session
One of my favorite ways to share lessons on Zoom is to allow students to view a screencast of the lesson (or a video from another resource) before the Zoom, then have them come on for a live Q & A. This saves time watching the lesson together (although you could certainly review parts if students have questions and need to see it again). Your students will appreciate having more time for questions without rushing through at the end of a meeting.
One of my favorite ways to share lessons on Zoom is to allow students to view a screencast of the lesson (or a video from another resource) before the Zoom, then have them come on for a live Q & A. This saves time watching the lesson together (although you could certainly review parts if students have questions and need to see it again). Your students will appreciate having more time for questions without rushing through at the end of a meeting.
Parent Conferences
Parent Conferences
If you have families that need additional support, set up some time to Zoom. It’s helpful for parents to “see” you and know that you’re available. Keep office hours that work for you and your family rather than opening up Zoom for meetings 24-7. Protect your time, but also show families you are there for them.
If you have families that need additional support, set up some time to Zoom. It’s helpful for parents to “see” you and know that you’re available. Keep office hours that work for you and your family rather than opening up Zoom for meetings 24-7. Protect your time, but also show families you are there for them.
These Zoom tips for teachers will help your students and colleagues have a successful school year. Even if online learning is just happening part time, your learners will be happy to “see” your face, learn, and build community via Zoom!
These Zoom tips for teachers will help your students and colleagues have a successful school year. Even if online learning is just happening part time, your learners will be happy to “see” your face, learn, and build community via Zoom!
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