We have all had to adapt to remote schooling in the last few weeks, and many of us are likely to be investigating the opportunities, strategies and pitfalls that accompany the various online platforms and formats available. All of this, subject to advice from schools and from the government, is changing daily!
Below are some ideas gathered from local schools about what remote interaction with students can look like. Please contact me if you would like more details. Please consider the safeguarding risks associated with any online interactions with students, and consult your school’s authorities if in any doubt.
- Record a brief explanatory clip (on Zoom), publish it (on YouTube) and finish with a multiple choice question to check for understanding, to accompany the work that you set. Here is a simple example of a video that has been uploaded to YouTube. Here is a Google form that will allow you to check for understanding.
- On a slightly more grand scale, curate a TV channel!
- Set up problem solving in small groups – many online meeting platforms allow for breakout rooms, which allows you to drop in on small groups of students who are discussing their work. This enables students to act as if they are sitting round a table, and to discuss, check and demonstrate. The Regular Problem Solving Workshops run by the AMSP are running a version of this for students who are preparing for university maths tuition tests.
- Set up remote group work on a shared screen – as with the previous suggestion, this is only possible if you are able to get your students online at the same time. There is free software that enables teachers to present and to invite students to interact with the screen, offering a great opportunity for group problem solving. The image below shows six students solving an exam question, directed by their teacher:
