The outbreak of COVID-19 has resulted in widespread school closures, forcing educators to get creative with how they deliver instruction. For many, this has meant turning to eLearning. While eLearning is not a new concept, the pandemic has resulted in a sharp increase in its use.
eLearning can be defined as any learning that takes place electronically. This could include anything from online courses to digital textbooks to educational apps. eLearning has several advantages over traditional instruction, including increased flexibility and accessibility.
During the pandemic, eLearning has allowed students to continue their education even when they cannot physically attend school. It has also allowed educators to reach more students than they would be able to if they were teaching in a traditional classroom setting.
If you’re planning to do eLearning for some of your classes, you must know about the fundamentals of eLearning, starting with a reliable internet connection.
Reliable Internet Connection
Internet connection plays a huge role in eLearning. If you’re planning to use eLearning in your classroom, you need to ensure that your students have a reliable internet connection. Many students who live in rural areas or come from low-income families do not have access to high-speed internet. This can make it difficult for them to participate in eLearning.
There are a few ways that you can overcome this obstacle. One is to provide your students with mobile hotspots or other devices that will give them access to the internet. Another is to offer eLearning courses that don’t require a lot of bandwidth. For example, you could create video lessons that students can watch offline or use apps that don’t need an internet connection.
For students that don’t have a hard time getting a reliable internet connection, you should consider giving them modules instead. Modules can be found in various formats, including PDFs, Word documents, and PowerPoint presentations.
Modules are often used in online courses and can be very helpful for students who want to learn at their own pace. You can find modules for almost any topic, and they can be easily customized to fit the needs of your students. If this seems impossible even for them, you can ask them to enroll in a local charter school. These schools can provide introductory classes for them to continue their learning without the need for an internet connection.
SMART Lesson Plan
A SMART lesson plan is defined to be a lesson plan that is specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound. This type of lesson plan is vital for eLearning because it helps ensure that your students are learning the material and understanding what they’re supposed to be doing.
When you create a SMART lesson plan, you’ll need to start by outlining the goals of the lesson and being able to apply them in real life. For example, if you’re teaching a lesson on fractions, your goal might be for students to be able to identify and recognize fraction equivalencies by the end of the lesson.
Once you’ve defined the goals of the lesson, you’ll need to create a plan for how you’re going to achieve them. For example, if you’re teaching a lesson on fractions, your plan might involve using fraction strips to help students visualize equivalencies.
Engaging Content
If you want your students to learn, you need to make sure that the content you’re using is engaging. There are a few ways that you can make your content more interesting. One is to use multimedia. Multimedia can include anything from videos and audio files to images and infographics.
Another way to make your content more engaging is to use real-world examples. For example, if you’re teaching a lesson on fractions, you could use a recipe that requires fractional measurements. This will help your students to see how fractions are used in the real world.
You can also make your content more engaging by making it interactive. There are a few ways that you can make your content interactive. One is to use quizzes and polls. This will help to ensure that your students are actively engaged in the lesson.
Learner-centered Design
When creating your eLearning courses, it’s important to keep the learner-centered design in mind. This means that your courses should be designed with the needs of your students in mind. There are a few ways that you can do this. One is to make sure that your courses are accessible. This means that they can be accessed by students with a variety of different disabilities.
Another way to make sure that your courses are learner-centered is to use scaffolding. Scaffolding is a technique that is often used in education. It involves you working with a student through an advanced task. This will help your students to better understand the material and will make it easier for them to complete the task.
There are four fundamentals of eLearning: reliable connection, modules, a SMART lesson plan, and engaging content. These four things are essential for creating effective eLearning courses. If you keep these fundamentals in mind, you’ll be well on your way to creating courses that are both effective and engaging.
