Online teaching has thrown us into a world of mics off, cameras off, motivation off. It can be particularly difficult if you are working or teaching from home, and lacking motivation yourself. This week I’ve been presented with a quiet class, so below are some activities that I’ve used to encourage them to speak out.
- Use a name spinner/ lucky draw.
I used this recently, when I was observed by a BALEAP assessor. They commended me for incorporating this into a feedback session, as it takes the onus off the teacher. You can find free name spinners/ wheels/ online. I recommend one that you can remove the student’s name from the wheel once they have spoken!
2. Encourage peer nomination.
Let students volunteer their peers to contribute an answer. Again, the teacher is off the hook, and this helps build student rapport and add a bit of fun to an online lesson. I’ve noticed students often select their friends to participate, causing some much needed laughter in the online environment.
3. Polls
Although this doesn’t encourage students to speak, it does allow them to demonstrate their understanding of an activity or concept, and provide feedback as needed. Blackboard Collaborate has a poll feature, as does MS Teams.
4. Kahoot
This I like to use on a Monday morning for a sense of “fun”, to consolidate the weekend’s reading and wake everyone up. For the free version of Kahoot, you can only play a live quiz with 10 participants, so I ask students in my class to team up.
5. Using Break Out Rooms
I’ve found that in smaller “rooms” students are more willing to contribute and ask questions. Of course, this depends on the level of your class, and is not a general rule. I have noticed that there is much more English spoken in these rooms, as opposed to the main room, which is heavily teacher led.
These are some methods that work for me, you have to find what works for you.
Thanks for reading.
Ms A Tutoring Services 