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Before your course starts
Before your course starts
Practice with online platforms beforehand
Bear in mind that - the same as with face-to-face lessons - not everything will go according to plan at first, and that’s OK! However, you will feel more confident if you practise with a platform before you start and discover where its key features are.
Try working with a colleague or friend. You can use Zoom with a free licence. Spend a bit of time creating your Google Classroom site before sharing it.
Set up a working environment in your home
Set up a space which is friendly and inviting, but also free of distractions like television, other family members or personal items
Dress as you would for class
Adjust your lighting - don’t sit directly in front or beside a bright light source, or else all the group will see is a bright light and a shadowy figure. Experiment with moving lamps and your camera, until you can see your brightly-lit face on the screen
Set your camera at, or just above, eye level.
Log on in good time
Log on at least 10 minutes before the session, so you can check everything is working and admit students to the class before it starts.
First Sessions
First Sessions
Spend time inducting your students
Plan to spend some time in the first session showing students how Zoom/Google Meet work. Make sure they can hear and see you, and other learners. Check they can find the features you will be using (e.g. how to mute themselves or how to indicate they want to speak). Encourage them to hover around the screen to see what is there.
On the right is a short student induction presentation to help you remember all the important points.
INDUCTIONS to online learning.pptxDiscuss the ground rules/netiquette for participation in online learning with your students. (E.g. muting their microphone when they are not speaking; checking their background; avoiding speaking over each other).
We ask students to keep their cameras on to help participation and a sense of community. However, there are some good reasons why students may not want to be seen, such as some learners with disabilities, so tutors should be flexible.
Some information on online netiquette, as well as this netiquette video, is in the Help Centre on the City Lit website.
Be clear when you are available
Because the course is online, students may feel that they can contact you outside class hours and get an immediate response. Make it clear to your students when you are available and when you will respond to questions or assignments. You don't need to be available 24/7.
Use the Individual Record of Learning
You will need to initially assess your learners. You can post the Individual Record of Learning (IRL) - or your department's equivalent - on Google Classroom, or email it to them. Or, if you wish, you can choose a less formal method of checking your learners' starting points. Do make sure you record these in some way – even if it's just notes.
The IRL is available in Word, or you can use it as a Google Form via Google Classroom. Help sheets are on the link below.
Safety online
Do be careful about safety online. Please don’t share your personal details with your class and ask your learners not to share theirs either on Google classroom or during the live session.
Check your background, and check your learners to make sure there is nothing behind them that can identify them.
Be particularly careful when sharing your screen - it is easy to leave windows open on your screen and accidentally show your emails or other personal information.
Troubleshooting technical problems
One or two of your students may have technical problems and ask for your help. There is some basic help with this on the Troubleshooting page - use the link on the right.
Offer some suggestions if you can, but if you cannot help quickly then refer the student to digital learning - digital.learning@citylit.ac.uk
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