Teachers are not only expected to teach. They must be lifelong learners, who always have a timely response to the constant changes in the educational system. The requirements of students are evolving by the day. If we don’t stay in touch with the trends, we quickly become out of touch, old-school teachers who can’t make a connection with modern generations of students. We don’t want that to happen.
E-learning, the most important transformation of the educational process we’ve ever seen, is the driving force of innovation. It’s efficient, affordable, and creativity-boosting. If the approach of the educator is appropriate, the students won’t mind accepting e-learning as part of their education. In fact, they will be glad for the ability to explore new ways of learning.
Are you wondering how you can promote e-learning and educational innovation effectively?
First of All, Make E-Learning Personal!
You can’t just choose a random online course and ask your students to follow it. The e-learning process has to be related to their personal interests. Some of your students would love to join an online writing course. It will help them develop foundational writing skills, so they won’t feel like they have to rely on a paper writing service for their future projects. Others are not interested in writing at all, so this would become an additional burden to them.
The beauty of the e-learning process is in personalization. In a traditional classroom setting, it’s difficult for the teacher to monitor the progress of each student, and it’s nearly impossible for them to adapt the pace of teaching to each individual. There’s a curriculum to follow. Online courses give students an opportunity to learn something they truly want to learn.
So ask your students to tell you what knowledge they would like to obtain and what skills they would like to develop. With your help, each of them can choose their own online course. The help of the teacher is still needed, so each student will choose a course that corresponds to their current capacity. You don’t necessarily want a high school student to take a university-level course if it is above his/her level.
To monitor student progress, you’ll ask them to write a report and share what they’ve learned with the class near the end of the school year.
Make the Process Collaborative
Isolation is one of the greatest issues of e-learning. According to critics, these programs deliver content instead of a true learning experience. The student is stuck in front of the computer, having no interaction with the lecturer or fellow students.
You can overcome this pitfall and motivate your students to discover the true advantages of this educational innovation. One way to encourage collaboration is by grouping few students together and setting them up for the same online course. They will develop the final project through teamwork.
In addition, you should always be available for all questions your students have. Whenever it’s hard for them to understand part of the course, they should just come to you. You’ll help them with explanations and provide additional materials, if needed.
Don’t forget that e-learning opens the doors to global collaboration, too. Most online courses have community pages where the learners can discuss all kinds of topics related to the curriculum.
Use the Right Tools
It’s not just about promoting e-learning, it’s also about promoting innovation. Educators should recommend the right tools that support the process of online learning. Once you help your students find the right courses for their needs and you give instructions on how to follow them, you should recommend a few tools that will make the learning process more effective. Here are few suggestions:
- Quora - It’s a great source of information! Whatever question your students have, they might find answers in this community. If they can’t find precise answers, they can simply ask.
- Momentum - This is a Google Chrome extension that serves as a to-do list tool. It will remind your students of their learning goals, so they won’t waste their screen time with Facebook or Bored Panda.
- Reddit - Don’t be surprised! If your students are old enough to use Reddit, recommend the Online Learning subreddit. Here, your students will find recommendations of the best online learning resources.
- Feedly - Thanks to this tool, your students will get the latest information related to their e-learning goals in a single place.
- Evernote - Note-taking is a crucial aspect of the learning process. With this app, your students will keep all their notes organized, so they will find the right one when they need it.
Mark Delarika is a professional content writer, tutor, and successful blogger. He is familiar with a wide range of spheres concerning running own business and education. Mark taught in more than 10 countries all over the world. He is a business writer at best paper writing service.
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