Lessons learned from moving online during move online in spring 2020

Yesterday Dr Lock, our dean of eLearning, sent us a set of questions to guide us as we reflect on this semester.  I love taking a moment to "tie a bow" on experiences.  When something ends I typically feel sad.  Taking time to reflect on lessons learned as well as celebrations helps me move on.

I won't include all of the questions;  I'll only include those that I want to share or reflect on today.

• If you've taught an online class before, what was different between those sections and the courses you had to transition to remote learning because of the pandemic?

Students were prepared for the expectations of an online class before because I took the time to prepare them.  Unfortunately, I felt so rushed to get the classes online that I didn't take the steps to teach students how to learn in an online environment.  Also, many didn't want to be online.  Providing that level of information probably would have overwhelmed them.

 What was your favorite part of moving your class online?

Discussion boards—students shared that don’t usually speak up in class.  I chose to use posts on discussion boards to continue taking roll after we went online to encourage students to keep checking in and learning.  I wanted them to have the routine of still "going to class."  As the semester went on I sought out information about how to offer more emotional support to students in the online format.  I learned that discussion boards are a great way to build community and offer encouragement.  

In two of my sections, a rich community developed in which students shared fears and challenges and others offered encouragement.  One class did this beautifully in Spanish but the other did it in English.  I made the decision to take a break from Spanish review with discussion questions and allow them to express themselves in English.  I also used the discussion boards to give students a way to reflect on their learning.  I will continue this is future semesters.

 What was your least favorite part of moving your class online?

Lack of motivation from students

• If it has to stay as is, could anything improve the element for you and/or the students?

Offer more explanation about why something is important and worth their time.  Omit elements of class that are busy work.  I'm thankful that I'm changing curriculum because I'm redoing everything.  The move online showed me glaring issues that aren't working:  high stakes tests, lack of retention of information, lack of buy in with doing homework.

 What did your students like most about the new environment?

Choices—they loved that they had so much freedom in their final projects

 How can you best assess whether students are achieving the desired learning outcomes in your classes? Are your assessment measures (e.g., exams, essays, presentations, etc.) working to achieve your goals? Do they tell you what you want to know about student learning?

I need to rethink high stakes tests.  They stressed students out and I couldn’t tell if students missed problems due to computer issues (making a mistake and realizing it later but the test wouldn’t allow them to go backwards) or if they actually didn’t know something.  Projects were a much better way to measure how students could actually use the language in context.

 

If your class is ever fully online from the beginning of the semester, what will you do differently?

Curl up in a ball and cry that we have to do this again.  After I cry the tears, I'll be more deliberate in reassuring students how great online learning can be.  I'll explain more on Day 1 about how online works.  I have a Start Here module that explains a multitude of things, including how the curriculum works.  This will be a part of all online classes.

 

• What technology would you need to teach effectively online in the fall?

I’ve started using a concept map site that I plan to continue with in the fall.  Linking concepts will help with retention and buy in of practicing concepts.  I look forward to utilizing this more in class.  I also plan to incorporate Zoom meetings in my online classes for test review and community building.  I don't personally like Zoom due to spotty internet at home as well as the stilted nature of the interaction, but it's a valuable tool.  It can enhance my online classes.

 

• What help would your students need, especially if this isn’t their first choice of modality?

Encouragement, reassurance and organization to make everything very clear.  Students get lost and then give up.  I want to catch their challenges earlier and step in quicker.  

This semester was the first semester I required my hybrid classes to submit homework from the online curriculum.  Many didn't do the work and it was frustrating on my end that they paid for the product but didn't use it.  Why?  Did they not understand how to use it?  (I know I explained it over and over in class, posted videos and screen shots.)  Did they not see the importance?   Did they not have time?  

In my online classes students understand that the curriculum is the vehicle in which they learn and practice the material of the class.  I enhance their learning with lecture videos when needed and help them refine their learning, but the curriculum is the method in which they learn the concepts.  The students in the hybrid class seemed to miss this big picture.  In future semesters I'll work to communicate the importance of utilizing the curriculum to prepare for class as well as practice concepts.

In conclusion, I'm choosing to call this semester a win.  My goal when we moved online was to be kind.  Yes, I needed to continue teaching, but I wanted to be kind in all circumstances.  I can confidently report that I met my goal.  I was kind.  I'm not sure students learned the material to the degree I would have liked (based on their tests which overall weren't great) but I did my very best to make LOTS of lecture videos, providing them all the support they could need.  Many took advantage of the opportunities I provided.  I didn't want anyone to leave higher ed because of a mean Spanish teacher.  None dropped out during the semester and I had to talk a few through the idea that if they dropped out they would lose the money and time already invested.  They all stayed.  I worked hard to encourage, motivate, cheer lead and celebrate any and all successes along the way.  I made some great videos and student feedback affirms that all the time it took to make those (and edit the CC which is not fun with Spanish text) was worth it.

There were challenges this semester and I met them head on.  I am so proud of my hard work.  I wasn't perfect and I could make a whole separate post on the things I would have done differently, but instead I'm going to "tie the bow" on this chapter.  It was a tremendous challenge and I met the challenge with kindness.  I call that a win.