Giving Compass' Take:

• EdSurge asked our teaching advice columnist, Bonni Stachowiak, about recommendations for online learning for educators as more classrooms are going virtual due to coronavirus. 

• Some educators will struggle to make the transition to online curricula. How can local communities (including donors) help alleviate some of these challenges for teachers? 

• Learn how school districts are preparing for coronavirus. 

Every day, a new batch of colleges announces that in-person classes are closed and teaching will shift online to try to halt the spread of the coronavirus COVID-19. This has thrust an unprecedented number of teachers into a format for which they may have little or no training.

So EdSurge asked our teaching advice columnist, Bonni Stachowiak, to offer a quick primer. Stachowiak is host of a long-running podcast called “Teaching in Higher Ed,” and she’s the dean of teaching and learning at Vanguard University of Southern California. Her campus is still open—for now—but she is bracing for disruption and sees it all around her.

Think Shorter

If it’s hard to hold students’ attention in person, it’s even harder online, says Stachowiak: “You'll want to think about shortening that experience. The online environment tends to have shorter, more-compact opportunities and then other things to do that are more engaging than just sitting and listening.”

Make Sure to Record Online Sessions For Those Who Can’t Tune in Live

Because not everyone will be able to make it to class, and because it’s easy to do, press record on whatever tool you use to offer remote classes, Stachowiak says. She has a habit of sharing the recording with students just as soon as a session is over, so she doesn’t forget.

Lighting is Key, and Think About Virtual Eye Contact 

When you’re standing in front of a class via live video, make sure you aren’t standing in the shadows.

Use Polls to Keep Students Engaged

There are many tools available to pose multiple-choice questions to students remotely.

Read the full article about advice for online teaching by Jeffrey R. Young at EdSurge.