The answer is obvious but difficult: we’ve just got to go ahead and post them. In fact, I’ll explain in this article why the rule of thumb we need to aim for is never re-recording our asynchronous instructional videos even though this certainly means we’ll be publishing work that is beneath our best sometimes. Why? […]
How (and Why) to Leave Audio Feedback on Student Work This Year, Whether During In-Person or Distance Learning
In 2007, researchers from West Virginia, Virginia, and North Carolina thought up an interesting study. In asynchronous distance learning scenarios, what would happen if one group of students received audio-based feedback on their work while another group received traditional, text-based feedback? Their findings were remarkable — especially now that so many of us find ourselves […]
Catchphrases that Work: “Is this a Mosquito Wing Thing?”
After reading my recent article “People, not Passwords: Why You Need a Catchphrase or Two to Define Your Challenges This Fall,” one of our colleagues wrote in with a catchphrase she plans to lean on especially hard this school year. Julie Holderbaum is an English teacher at Minerva High School in Minerva, OH. For years, […]
A Million Words or Fewer: Deborah Bova’s Tried-and-True Method for Learning from Parents at the Start of Distance Learning
So you’re teaching from a distance and you’d like a non-invasive (dare I say pleasant?) method for gaining insight into your students, their homes, and their families. The best, most sensitive, most inviting method I know for this kind of thing is Deborah Bova’s Million Words activity. While this assignment’s utility is not limited to […]
A Middle School Science Team in New Mexico Rocks their Distance Learning Intro Video with Humor and Passion
A week ago, I gave a professional development segment on humanizing online learning spaces at the start of the year and building strong relationships from the get-go.* One simple start to such an effort is to create a teacher intro video that introduces students to who you are as their teacher. Take a look at […]