In 2023, a revolutionary change has been expected by the constantly evolving education environment on how we teach or learn. Educators and students alike now enter into an active negotiation within a dynamic landscape, wrought in part by the development of digital technologies along with creative best practices.
In the course of this journey, we shall explore this environment embracing new technology approaches as well as techniques, reconfiguring the digital connectivity in teaching and learning.
Communication
Effective communication is still the basis of any successful group activity even with limited face-to-face contact in a digital classroom. With clear communication that is consistent, misinterpretations and misconceptions are avoided; there is room for everyone’s opinions and ideas, giving the entire team a common understanding.
Brainstorming discussions, review of progress, and decisions on important issues call for regular virtual meetings. Members use these gatherings to express their thoughts, feelings, and queries, developing an intimacy that overcomes geographical barriers. For such attendees, vary meeting hours or recording sessions so that they better match different schedules and time zones in which people could participate.
On the other hand, being physically distant has its own unique opportunities in terms of creative collaboration. Various students from different areas and backgrounds are able to contribute their views without restriction of an ordinary classroom giving more depth and width to the project. Split the work according to the skills and interests of each worker for optimal leveraging of these values. Keep the members of the board up–to–date with accomplishments and problem updates. Ensure that there is a free discussion about the possibilities of hindrances.
Verbal communication is less intuitive than non-verbal and when using words in your communication their intent is much more calculated. At the same time, it is likely that a smile, laughter, face, or hand gesture type of communication could be quite unplanned. In his 1972 study, psychologist Albert Mehrabian concluded that non-verbal communication is responsible for over 90% of all exchanges among people. Out of this, body language accounts for about 55%, while voiced conversation comes in at around
Since nonverbal communication is important, we should be careful when initiating Nonverbal communication interactions in the course of digital dialogues rather than physical dialogues. What is the best way for educators to demonstrate conduct that creates collaborative classes, so students feel ‘heard’? Below are five nonverbal engagement strategies and techniques for teachers.
The adoption of digital technology continues to transform commercial farm enterprises and with time may alter the nature of farming in developed countries ultimately reducing pesticide application and significantly minimizing water usage. These past eleven months have introduced three new terms to our vocabulary; the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdown, and quarantine. Everyone in the world is familiar with the destruction caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This has led the educational system through some turmoil with the least being supported by digital technology. Homework: students’ duty?
Collaboration
The digital classroom is a web-based platform for learning in which participants interact using different online tools such as video conferencing and chat rooms. Digital classrooms have benefits such as being cost-saving and environmentally friendly, while it allows the instructor to present everything in one place, i.e., all course materials and communication. The major disadvantage of a purely digital classroom is that it may prove more difficult for management in comparison with a traditional one because there is no real communication between students and teachers here.
To deal with this, teachers must promote student-to-student and peer-to-peer collaboration in collaboration over the Internet. Such virtual platforms as Google Hangout and Skype allow students to interact in out-of-class projects easily. Additionally, these tools can also facilitate asynchronous discussions, peer review, presentations, and wikis. By utilizing these sites in the classroom, pupils are encouraged to rehearse their communication skills in a conducive setting.
In addition, these tools will assist students in appreciating the various platforms. They will have knowledge of the good manners required when working in groups over the Internet. This is because this enables them to attain good interpersonal abilities that are required for being successful in extracurricular activities. Also, online tools usage is expected to bring them to an era where they will most likely operate online henceforth.
Additionally, a digital classroom enables students to engage in debate sessions for instance with their mates as well as instructors at any time after school. Students, who struggle with their homework or exams could benefit significantly from this. In addition, students gain valuable feedback from their peers on their assignments which is a significant aspect of learning.
Lastly, a digital learning environment allows pupils to do their studies individually according to their own rates and schedules. Such support may turn out beneficial for those who study being involved in some kind of activities e.g. sports or part-time job. Nonetheless, it is wise for learners not to take it with too much ease, and therefore ensure appropriate volume of work/quality of work done.
Interaction
Students seeking to learn in a digital classroom must be able to utilize multiple online learning sites, relevant materials, and tools for collaboration. It may involve acquiring a computer, laptop, or tablet and an alternative source of reliable internet which will enable the students to interact virtually, join virtual events, and collaborate with their colleagues. These may be anything from Khan Academy videos, to YouTube clips of how individuals solve problems, through to virtual museums accessible globally by learners.
In a digital classroom setting, it is necessary to eliminate distractions when students interact. This is particularly applicable to instruction where a teacher should concentrate fully on designing the lessons and managing the class instead of being interrupted by other matters. This can be accomplished by restricting the use of several tools during lessons. For instance, if there is an overload of various programs and applications; students can be overwhelmed trying to keep up with the work. The number of non-learning activities like games and social media in which students indulge should also be reduced for the purposes of distraction management.
Telegraphic interaction may take different forms, for instance, the teacher’s submission-orientated, peer collaborative, or group projects in a digital classroom. Field trips are also being organized to some cultural institutions by a few schools using virtual visits that would not have happened in normal times. Collaborative learning that is of this type could be more responsive compared to traditional classroom education. Teachers can adjust the content of teachings for every student interested and needful area to be treated.
More so, a digital classroom provides more chances for creative response and critical reappraisal. It may also assist instructors in developing a suitable curriculum, attending to the emotional needs of learners, and offering additional advice to students outside the classroom. While this provides a good base, several crucial aspects need to be addressed for the full realization of the benefits presented by e-classroom.
This makes it difficult at the outset to guarantee a student’s access to any specific technological medium of learning. Inclusion in a digital classroom should comprise different forms of technology such as PCs, laptops, tablets, or smartphones and connectivity to the network. In addition, it should be on an application-based platform, such as Google Classroom or Clever. Besides, creates a conducive and quiet learning environment devoid of any disturbances. Students must also know what is expected of them at a particular time.
Assessment
With the emergence of the digital classroom, teachers have found new means for assessing pupil’s progress and achievement in studies. Nonetheless, this assessment has its complications upon implementation by some teachers. Luckily in today’s world, a multitude of support materials exists that make it possible for teachers to successfully implement this type of test.
Another crucial aspect is ensuring that students are able to use the necessary technology, which would be needed for the introduction of digital assessments. To achieve this, it means that an individual needs not just mere access to gadgets and good internet connections but also to undergo relevant e-learning training and development of online literacy.
It is also important to ensure that every student understands why they are being assessed, and how the results relate to their academic objectives. Especially where that applies to real assessment situations that involve meaningful problem-solving in applied knowledge and skill-oriented circumstances. This may be in the form of a real-world scenario or an artificially created realistic professional situation within the field.
Students should also be given room to practice, revise, and practice more on their work before grading. This will improve their performance, giving them an opportunity to view their first failures as a learning process. To this effect, they are offered feedback on their performance immediately upon completion of tasks and also have a chance to consult resources through a peer review.
Lastly, there ought to be diverse options for assessment approaches that fit various learners’ abilities and approaches. Although multiple-choice questions are effective and simple, they can never be the sole assessment instruments. For example, open-ended questions are utilized when rating critical thinking abilities, the students with different learning styles, visual ones included, perform multimedia tasks while adaptive assessment tools change the degree of difficulty depending on a current student’s answer.
It is Possible Creating a Positive Digital Classroom Environment with Tools and Strategies. Teachers should also acknowledge the possibilities of friction and be ready. So when converting to a digital classroom, they would succeed with their students.
