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If the last several years have taught educators anything, it’s that teachers don’t necessarily need to be in a physical classroom with kids in the seats to be effective. Instead, with the right atmosphere and tools and technology, teachers can work from home and still give the students the entire educational experience without missing a beat.
In fact, remote classroom strategies have many benefits for districts and the world of teaching in general, including helping to address teacher shortages and creating engaging atmospheres for students.
You can use several strategies to create the perfect home classroom that will be both appealing and functional. Here are some tips and steps to get started.
Choosing the right location
The first step to creating the ideal home classroom is choosing a professional and organized space. You might try to find a room with wall space where you can hang charts and artwork to make it more personal and provide a background that looks like a classroom. Whatever space you choose, remember that you don’t have to stay there all day. You can move to the kitchen for cooking segments, go outside for nature lessons, or whatever else fits.
One of the best design ideas when choosing a room is to find a space with plenty of natural light. Whether it’s in person or over a screen, natural light is great for your mental well-being and that of your students. Sunlight also helps release serotonin in your body, which can help prevent depression. A light atmosphere can also help your kids to focus. Set your classroom up in the living room, a spare room, or somewhere else with windows, and you could also save money on your monthly energy bill by keeping off the lights.
Teaching tools
Implementing smart tech tools is essential when you need to translate your lesson plans onto a computer or tablet screen.
An online whiteboard is an essential piece of tech because it can be an incredible resource. Depending on the program, you can use your whiteboard to brainstorm your next lesson. The ability to create notes and move them around or delete them with the press of a button makes for easy organization. Many whiteboards also allow you to work online with other collaborators and teachers in real-time and get instant feedback. You can also implement external programs like Google Drive, so you have all your files in one place.
Pair your whiteboard with other organizational tools, such as the program Hapara, which allows you to keep your assignments and slides in order while creating new course content. Then there’s the Bloomz app, which helps keep files in order and seamlessly connect with parents.
There are also many games that allow your students to play and learn on the computer. Programs like Prodigy Math Game help kids to stay engaged as they learn essential arithmetic lessons. Also, check out National Geographic Kids for fun digital games that will teach them about the world.
Of course, a final piece of tech you must have is a good video conferencing program, such as Google Classroom or Zoom. They allow you to speak to the class and interact via chat and other functions.
Look and sound your best
Although you want school to be engaging and fun, you also need to be professional in your remote presentation. Turn on and test your camera and computer before each school day so you are sure you can start each lesson without any issues.
In addition to being seen, you also want to be properly heard. Invest in a high-quality microphone that will allow your students to hear you without issue so your voice is clear and crisp. Consider a dynamic microphone, which is less sensitive and less able to pick up distracting sounds in the room that aren’t meant to be heard. If you’re a teacher who moves around a lot or you’re expressive with your hands, go for a lavalier microphone, which clips to your outfit so you’re always heard without issue.
There can be a lot that goes into designing the ideal remote classroom, but taking your time for proper design can lead to a better experience for you and your students.
