# @edutopia on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/CGajLGRlfCD
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/20304250-edutopia-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/thumbnails/ccc96c9b10.jpg
- **Posted:** 2020-10-16T18:41:28.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Edutopia (@edutopia) — https://gondola.cc/edutopia

## Caption

The pivot to online instruction, with little advance training or preparation, has left many seasoned educators feeling like novices. But as daunting as the new technological demands may feel, research shows it’s actually not tech that drives better learning outcomes. Instead, it’s a teacher’s skill at adapting technology to suit specific pedagogical goals that makes a difference in the virtual classroom. ⁣
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Here are seven high-impact, evidence-based strategies from a broad review of the research: ⁣
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1. Keep it clean: Your virtual classroom should be as well-organized as your real one. Students are more engaged, confident, and autonomous when their online learning resources are orderly.⁣
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2. Chunk your lessons: Break big lessons into smaller, digestible pieces. With online instruction, students’ working memory capacity is limited and they can absorb fewer concepts simultaneously. The ideal length for an instructional video is 6 minutes, for example, not the 30-minute length of an average classroom activity. ⁣
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3. Solicit lots of feedback: Check frequently for understanding and ask questions like “Is this online classroom easy to navigate?” or “Are you having technical problems?” via a quick Google Forms survey. ⁣
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4. Annotate and interject: To scaffold learning, use arrows and text labels to direct students’ attention to important details in your learning materials, and embed questions into instructional videos to check for understanding. ⁣
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5. Try quizzes: Low- and no-stakes online quizzes using tools like Kahoot or Quizlet can be fun and help kids reprocess and retain material. ⁣
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6. Connect with students: Counteracting the isolating effects of online classes with regular and informal interactions is paramount. Try checking in via morning meetings, greeting students one-by-one from your Zoom waiting room, or taking a moment to chat during unstructured time at the start of class.⁣
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7. Take care of yourself: Stress levels are super-high among teachers right now. “Make sure to put your own oxygen mask on and practice real care for yourself,” advises the surgeon general of California, Dr. Nadine Burke Harris. ⁣
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Link in bio.⁣
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#VirtualClassroom

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## Tags

virtualclassroom

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