In a single month in 2020, the unthinkable happened. Students in all 50 United States were impacted by school closures. Districts pivoted to short-term responses and initial guidelines for at-home learning. Now, a month after the coronavirus pandemic effectively halted traditional education for more than 50 million students, most districts have implemented or are in the process of implementing virtual learning plans and teachers across the country are finding creative ways to continue instruction through a screen.
While Zoom became a household name in March 2020, we at Education Elements have used the platform and similar ones over the past decade to engage with our district partners. We’ve learned that it’s nearly impossible to create the in-person connection teachers and students are wholly accustomed to, but there are several best practices that lead to efficient, effective, and yes, even joyful virtual sessions. The tips we’ve collected along the way can quite neatly translate into virtual facilitation strategies teachers or leaders of school teams can test out. From preventing Zoom fatigue with bio breaks or DJ’ing our way through independent reflection time, check out our new guide to learn our best practices for your next virtual classroom session.
And don’t forget to check out our companion guides!
