Top Ten Tech Tips for Optimizing Online Learning
Doc cams are helpful tools for younger students learning to write or higher-level math and science.
When it comes to engaging students in online learning, having access to the right technology (and knowing how to use it) makes all the difference.
At Pacific Preparatory, our teachers have perfected the practice of utilizing technology to empower students to engage in hands-on learning. This is because students learn from doing, not listening.
Quick tangent on the science of learning:
The human brain won’t move information into longterm memory stores via “encoding” activities like watching videos, reading, and listening to lectures. In order for the brain to retain information, it actually has to practice “retrieving” the information without looking at books or other reference materials. We need to be frequently assessed and provided feedback to understand what we’re doing wrong and how to do better.
From “The Cognitive Science of Education” (senseandsensation.com). Students learn mainly from the retrieval process.
Therefore, the more students are provided with opportunities for retrieval practice, the more they’ll learn. That’s why technology is so important for online learning.
Below we have compiled our top ten technology recommendations for optimizing online learning. Please note that, especially given the new environment we’re living in with so many schools moving into remote learning, this technology is constantly improving, so we may likely have an update to this list in the coming months.
Optimize your Internet: Nothing interferes more with learning online than slow Internet speed and frequent crashes. Check your speed frequently with a speed test, aiming for 50 Mpbs or more depending on how many people in the household are using the Internet at the same time.
Get a doc cam: Doc cams were once a pricey luxury but thanks for companies like Hue and Ipevo stepping up to make them more affordable, this addition to your remote learning set-up is a must-have, especially for younger students (K-5) and any student working through math or science problems with a teacher or tutor online.
Install parental controls: Help ensure your kids have a positive and safe Internet experience by having open conversations with them and installing the necessary controls. For a really simple way to start, enable Google “SafeSearch” on all browsers to filter out explicit content.
Dual monitors can increase productivity.
4. Consider two desktop monitors: When used correctly, additional monitors can be really useful for increasing productivity with online learning. If you don’t have two monitors you can always use your laptop as a second monitor. It’s important to help students understand how to properly use the second monitor first to prevent it from becoming another potential distraction.
5. Invest in good headphones: A good pair of noise-blocking headphones are especially important for students who may be working in proximity to siblings. Be sure to purchase headphones that have a microphone and will fit on your child’s head.
6. Consider a trackpad: Students using a doc cam may not also need a trackpad, but some find it helpful to work on a shared whiteboard (on screen) concurrently with their teachers. Writing on a trackpad can take practice, but it can be a terrific support to online learning when used properly.
7. Be picky about your platform: A really good online learning platform will include a number of important features (for example: doc cam sharing, access to a shared whiteboard, etc.), but most importantly the company behind the platform should always be optimizing & updating and have a responsive support team available for when tech issues arise.
Google docs allows students and teachers to live edit on the same document.
8. Consider Google Docs: Not everyone is as enamored with the Google Suite as we are, but we find it to be an especially helpful tech tool for supporting with online learning, specifically in the area of ELA instruction. By using a Google doc, for example, students and teachers can both and edit the same document simultaneously, allowing the teacher opportunities to provide live and instant feedback on student writing.
9. Experiment and practice: Every student is going to learn differently, so it’s important for each student to try out different kinds of tech and see what works best for their learning style. However, most important to keep in mind is for the tech tools to provide as much oversight and accountability as possible so that students continue transferring information to their longterm memory stores via retrieval practice.
10. Don’t forget low-fi tech: Physical manipulatives are just as important to have on-hand for online learning as the digital ones. We recommend creating easily accessible “kits” for our K-5 students in particular, which include things like whiteboards, math manipulatives, toy clocks, cards, and other hands-on activities that can be incorporated into sessions.
Please contact us learn more about online learning with Pacific Preparatory.