Staying productive during pandemics is difficult for every human, particularly for students. The disturbance to learning environments and graduation has been noteworthy. Several students are unsure what their education will look like in the coming months. Meanwhile, numerous are facing difficulties in completing their assignments. Therefore, they look for UK essay writers to fulfil their academic needs.
Consequently, in every physical classroom, some students are eager to participate, even those who are hesitant. However, it isn’t easy to bring pupils into discussions in online sessions, specifically the introverted ones, as they tend to think for a long time before contributing. In such a case, knowing ways to enhance students’ engagement becomes crucial for teachers.
Eight Ways to Engage Students
Here are the eight ways to engage students in deeper learning, despite these COVID-19 challenges.
1. Make Welcoming Environment
Students tend to engage in learning if they feel welcomed and assume teachers are truly involved in their growth and learning, whether they receive instruction online, in person, or through a hybrid. Therefore, it is now extremely important to greet each student with a smiling face and thank them for coming to class.
As we know, today, going to school, college, or university comes with physical barriers, such as plastic dividers in classrooms, distant sittings, and face masks. While in the case of online learning, students have to engage through screens. Thus, it has become crucial to make students feel involved to enhance their concentration and performance during and after the class.
2. Constantly Communicate
Keeping in contact with students can take many forms, including:
- Talking to the entire class while in class
- Sending group or personal emails
- Requesting feedback from students and their families through surveys
- Encouraging discussion on a discussion forum
Online breakout sessions structured for students to acquire their thinking provide continuous communication. It also makes the teacher understand what students are struggling with.
Teachers, who are tasked with tutoring online and in person, meet with students outside the school to understand them better. They are also scheduling additional Zoom video calls with their distant students to spend time getting to know them.
3. Consider Synchronous and Asynchronous Learning Methods
It is vital to pay attention to equity problems regarding access to learning during pandemics. For example, not all students who learn online can tune in to life. Therefore, teachers need to give students both asynchronous and synchronous learning options.
Always make sure all the lessons are recorded or create video content as it provides students with the flexibility to access learning efficiently. In addition, it can help students listen to the recorded lessons to understand the material better.
4. Build Strong Relationship with Students
Teachers must invest time and energy in truly getting to know their students to keep them interested in learning. This entails asking them questions, checking in on their feelings, and giving them enough time to reply.
One way of knowing and understanding is making small groups of students and creating different online rooms for discussions. This way, you can also ask them about their interests or what excites them.
It matters a lot to students if their teachers care about what they’re excited about or content with. Also, it builds trust and relationships among students and teachers.
5. Give Engaging Assignments and Assessments
The global epidemic has made it harder to provide a practical learning experience to students, whether online or in person. However, some institutions and governments have provided students with kits and equipment or arranged outdoor learning opportunities to combat the issues.
Moreover, students start showing their growth and learning through performance assessments. They tend to work on tasks relevant to their lives allowing assessments to show their learning.
Finally, teachers can enhance student engagement in performance-based assessment by creating interesting tasks, allowing learners to interact, and integrating self-assessments.
6. Listen to Students
It is essential to listen to students’ reactions, aspirations, and ideas. So, when we talk about personalising learning for each student, teachers must first listen to them.
Student learning is based on their passions and interests. This commitment to personalisation should continue during the pandemic. Therefore, students are encouraged to stay in touch with their internship mentors and conduct independent research on the pandemic’s impact on their areas of interest.
Keep in mind that students’ lives may be disrupted at home. So, they need someone to listen to them. This way, you can encourage them to work on self-improvement and help them participate actively in the classroom.
7. Provide Feedbacks
Pupils are more likely to stay engaged in their learning if they receive actionable and timely feedback. Therefore, this is an excellent time for teachers to explore more influential assessments allowing multiple revisions. Meanwhile, students must receive feedback from peers and teachers.
Students can be taught how to provide valuable feedback while working on projects. This practice will make them active participants in their learning instead of passively sitting and absorbing. In addition, receiving and responding to feedback allows students to hone their skills in learning ‘how to learn’. It is a skill that is particularly important in today’s ever-changing educational experiences.
8. Screen to Provide Additional Support
Amidst educators’ efforts to engage all students, we know some students fall between the cracks. They may be traumatised or hesitant to engage in online learning. Many of them who are worried refuse to turn on their cameras or audios during lectures.
Educators can conduct surveys to know what challenges students face; they can understand their students’ situations. In addition, being aware of such learning barriers can potentially assist students in remaining connected and involved.
Final Words!
We’ve highlighted the essential ways to help students enhance their engagement, performance, and learning during this pandemic outbreak.
However, if you’re struggling to complete your academic tasks, you can always consider help from dissertation writing service UK to meet your academic needs in the pandemic.
