Five Things Students Want Their Teachers to Know about Online Learning

Kids love having the opportunity to learn online but it’s not merely the medium or the technology that students enjoy. At the recent iNacol Virtual Schools Symposium I listened to high school students who have experience learning this way as well as teachers who have experience with these students, share some advice for making this type of learning even better.


Here is their advice as well as suggestions for tools that teachers can use to heed this advice.


Advice for Online Learning Educators

1. Socialization is important!
Teenagers value the ability to socialize and they don’t want to lose that online. Provide opportunities for students to meet, get to know each other, work together, and connect deeply in your online classes.  Teens want you to make it fun for them. While they certainly enjoy the benefits of working independently, they appreciate opportunities to work in pairs, groups, and with other class members.  Help foster this by creating projects and online spaces for them to work this way.
Tools:

• Skype or Google Video: Great for projects where students work in pairs. 
• Google+ Hangout: Works well for students meeting and working in groups.  
• Facebook Page: Wonderful for whole class discussion and interaction in a space where other experts and students can participate.  
• Fieldtrips: Give students opportunties to learn together in the world. 

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