Teach Secondary 13.5

ASK THE EXPERT Transforming online learning JennyWebster, Deputy Head of English at Academy21, explains how online education can use innovative approaches to improve student engagement EXPERT PROFILE NAME: JennyWebster JOB TITLE: Deputy Head of English AREA OF EXPERTISE: Developing efficient readers BEST PART OF MY JOB: Mentoring new staff, seeing our students grow in confidence and working with my team to innovate our practice How can we foster active student engagement online? Engaging students in online learning environments requires innovative pedagogical strategies that promote active participation and interaction. Student-led discussions with gamification elements, interactive quizzes and polls are all effective ways of enhancing engagement and motivation. This way, educators can create dynamic online classrooms, in which students are actively involved in the learning process. How does live teaching add value to the online learning experience? Live teaching is a game changer. Live sessions offer invaluable opportunities for connection and engagement between teachers and students. They enable educators to provide immediate feedback, foster meaningful discussions and tailor instruction to individual needs. This enhances student motivation, promotes a sense of community and facilitates deeper learning experiences, nurturing both academic growth and personal development. How can we deliver adaptive teaching online? In online schooling, adaptive teaching is paramount for ensuring every student’s success. Through embedding varied pedagogical strategies, multimedia resources and interactive activities, the needs of diverse learners can be accommodated. By analysing students’ performance data and adapting content delivery accordingly, educators can provide targeted support and remediation, ultimately enhancing student learning outcomes. What role does technology play in the online classroom? Integrating multimedia resources, interactive simulations and educational apps will ensure that lessons are engaging and dynamic. Virtual collaboration tools facilitate meaningful communication and teamwork, helping to create an important sense of fellowship among learners while breaking down geographical barriers with a single click. Technology can empower educators to create immersive, interactive learning environments that inspire curiosity and promote academic success in the online classroom. How can we ensure effective assessment online? In online teaching, effective assessment requires a multifaceted approach. Teachers can accomplish this by leveraging technology to create various testing formats, including quizzes and interactive assignments. Learning management systems like Canvas support time-limited exams, randomised question banks and automatic grading for quick feedback. Adopting tools that monitor student understanding in real-time, such as polling and digital hand-raises, will ensure that assessments are comprehensive and conducive to learning outcomes. Facilitating discussion forums and peer reviews can additionally enrich understanding and engagement among students. ASK ME ABOUT • HOWWE – build positive teacher-pupil relationships in a virtual environment • HOWWE – can utilise interactive tools and technologies to enhance student engagement in an online learning environment • HOWWE – support personalised learning to meet the diverse learning needs of students academy21.co.uk/alternative-provision T: 0800 208 8210 PA R T N E R C O N T E N T teachwire.net/secondary 20