Teaching During a Pandemic
Don’t worry, you got this.
Spring 2020 will be remembered for quite a number of reasons but it will especially be looked back upon with pride and empathy towards every educator who managed to transition their classroom from in-person to an online virtual world for their students to navigate.
Of course, this transition was not easy. We know there were obvious challenges presented immediately such as access to technology and connectivity in certain areas before even beginning to tackle converting a full curriculum onto a virtual platform for the first time ever. Educators found themselves changing and altering lessons to best support their students online.
Adapting lessons to a digital platform can be daunting but it is a task that is achievable. The internet is one of the best resources we have at our fingertips. There are a massive number of opportunities for student collaboration and discussion on projects, parents can get more involved and become self-aware of their child’s learning needs and this will help keep their children accountable, teachers can set realistic expectations and measure them online whilst catering for all the learning styles. Student engagement is now more essential than ever and because of the variety of teaching methodologies available to the educator, this can only improve. Video conferencing, audio clips, PowerPoint presentations, and breakout rooms will contribute to student success.
Teaching during a pandemic is stressful and teachers are expected to be cognitively aware at all times so what are some ways for teachers to relax and unwind after a day in the digital world.
Here are some suggestions to get you started:
Switch off your computer at the end of the day and leave it in your home office/space allocated to work
Ask for help from co-workers if you need it
Take regular lunch breaks as you would in the classroom
Get outside for some fresh air
Exercise
Connect with friends and family
Meditate
Get regular sleep
The students are ahead and no students are behind. They are exactly where they need to be and we must commend our educators all over the world for that.
