When it comes to online learning and teaching, we can all agree that there will always be challenges along the way. But what’s important is to acknowledge that these challenges are only temporary because there are various ways and means to solve it – one being the most effective is technology.
“Sa panahon ngayon, ang mga estudyante natin napakagagaling when it comes to manipulating technical devices and broadcasting it to their friends and to the public. So might as well take advantage of that particular skill na meron ang mga estudyante natin.”
-Dr. Peter Esperanza
“Iba na yung trends ngayon. Hindi na lang tayo consumer ng content. Everyone is a creator.”
-Lyqa Maravilla
Chalkboard is continuously aiming to deliver quality education not just by giving students access to expert educators but also by disseminating information that will be essential to parents, teachers, and learners. That’s why we also try as much as we can to organize webinars in partnership with professionals in the field to further give everyone a better chance at grasping what online learning is really about and how important it is to know how it actually works considering that this kind of learning set up in the Philippines is progressing more and more.
USING TECHNOLOGY IN BRINGING ONLINE LEARNING
Our first ever Facebook Live free webinar is with someone who shares the same passion as Chalkboard, Dr. Peter Esperanza, the man behind the famous YouTube channel, TheNumberBender. He is also a math professor at Barstow Community College in California, USA. It was held last September 11, 2020. He was more than willing to give our dear teachers and tutors some tips, techniques, and best practices that they can use to make their online classes effective and engaging.
Even as a veteran in online learning himself, with many years of exposure and practice, Dr. Esperanza admitted that he still struggles sometimes so he always tries to modify his teaching methods to be an effective online educator.
HOW IT STARTED
Dr. Esperanza shared in the webinar that he was able to start his YouTube channel because of his personal hurdle back in 2013 when he figured out that there was insufficient time to finish teaching his math lessons because of his school’s new curriculum. That was when he decided to record videos of his lessons that were only exclusive for his students back then. He started recording videos by using affordable materials such as whiteboard, markers, mic, and a computer camera.
He emphasized that the equipment in recording lessons does not necessarily need to be expensive. There are many cheap alternatives that can still give the same excellent outputs. He imparted in the webinar that teachers usually work on a limited budget, so it is very important to be creative and make the most out of your available resources.
DR. E IN ACTION
Dr. E was generous enough to give us a web demo on how he does his presentations online. He proceeded by giving us the easiest method which is by recording a lesson using a whiteboard marker. He said that it is very important to have a clear voice since the learners rely mostly on what you discuss verbally on your videos. Writing legibly is also a plus since learners can take notes correctly on their own if they can properly read the lessons on the board.
One important thing that he also shared is that as educators, we should teach our students how to create. Since recording lecture videos is an alternative way of teaching, he said that students using technology is one good alternative to assess what they learned. He sees to it to ask his students to record themselves too and make content about their math lessons. That way, students will still enjoy the class even at home.
By the end of his webinar, he encouraged that the teachers and tutors watching should try it by themselves to see if they can give their own twists and personal flavor in making their lecture videos. After all, it is always to each his own. What might have worked for Dr. E might not work for others and vice-versa. It is in finding our own unique take on this new medium that we can give our best at what we do.
Those who still wish to watch this discussion can click on this link:
HOW TO CREATE A FULL LESSON WITH JUST ONE DEVICE
Chalkboard is also very honored to have this webinar following Dr. E’s with someone who shares the same goal and aspiration to democratize education here in the Philippines. She is an educational content creator, an author, and also a motivational speaker. She is no other than Coach Lyqa Maravilla. Her Facebook Live webinar was held last October 24, 2021 and is about creating a full lesson by just using one device.
Coach Lyqa discussed about 10 teaching tips during this webinar. Like Dr. E, she also advised the teachers and tutors to not rely on expensive tools but just use low-cost materials in making contents for your students as much as possible.
TEACHING TIP #1: THE BEST EQUIPMENT YOU CAN USE ARE THE ONES YOU ALREADY HAVE.
For beginners, many would think that it is a must to invest in buying equipment immediately. But what coach says is to resource on what you already have. We mostly see content creators using different materials to film themselves, but she swears by the fact that you can do it by using any of the following alone: a point and shoot camera, a laptop camera, or a cellphone camera.
TEACHING TIP #2: THE GOAL ISN’T FOR YOU TO TEACH. THE GOAL IS FOR THE STUDENTS TO LEARN.
Coach Lyqa discussed how the feedback process is particularly important in online learning. Students can give feedback like how fast or slow you speak, your lighting, your internet connection, and on other things they are having difficulty with. That’s why it is important to hear them out so you can improve the way you teach and by doing so, students can learn more.
TEACHING TIP #3: DON’T DISTRACT THEM. BE DELIBERATE IN YOUR DESIGN.
When we say deliberate, everything has to be in its place, everything has to be there for a purpose. Don’t put texts or images in your presentations that are not needed so that it will not make any distractions while teaching. She also shared that it is better to keep it simple with the goal that by a single glance from your lesson, the students can easily get what you want to teach.
TEACHING TIP #4: YOU CAN USE AN OUTLINE, A SCRIPT, NEITHER OR BOTH. USE WHAT WORKS FOR YOU.
She advised that for those new to content creating, a script would really help to serve as a guide on what you’re going to teach and when you get a hang of it, then that’s the time that you can skip the script and just go with an outline. Again, this is just her advice but if you are someone who prefers to do it impromptu, you are more than welcome to do so.
TEACHING TIP #5: THE BEST TEACHERS ARE LEARNERS WHO NEVER STOPPED.
Coach Lyqa took up her masters shortly after graduating. She said that teachers should never stop learning. Everyday is an opportunity to learn something new. And by being a teacher who strives to continuously learn, it will just be very natural to become the best educators.
TEACHING TIP #6: IF YOU WANT BETTER AUDIO, TURN THE FAN AND AC OFF.
We all might have encountered an online class or an online meeting where we can’t seem to understand the one who’s speaking because of the noise from their fan or aircon. That’s why if you want to be heard, it is best to turn off your fans or aircons for the meantime.
TEACHING TIP #7: STUDENTS LEARN BETTER IF THEY CAN SEE BETTER.
It is not just important that students get to hear you clearly, it is also important that they can see you vividly. Lighting is important. Coach Lyqa said that you don’t have to buy expensive lights or even a ring light. Just knowing where the well-lit place in your house can be enough.
TEACHING TIP #8: CHOOSE WHAT THEY SHOULD FOCUS ON AND TURN AUTO FOCUS OFF.
Your cameras whether using a digital camera or a phone camera tend to auto focus. If you are aware that your students can easily get distracted by things around your surroundings, it is best that the camera only is focused on you.
TEACHING TIP # 9: MAKE SURE TO MAKE YOUR CONTENT EFFECTIVE ACROSS ALL DEVICES.
We have to understand and be aware that not all students have the same learning devices. Some use phones, some use computers, while some use tablets. And those have various specs. It is best to consider that your lecture video should be readable and understandable to any devices.
TEACHING TIP #10: DON’T ADD ANYTHING THAT DOESN’T ADD TO THE EXPERIENCE.
It is not about putting a lot of sound effects, a lot of visuals, what’s important is that you get to communicate your lesson clearly and straight to the point. Don’t add anything that is unrelated to your lecture.
Coach Lyqa ends her discussion by saying that teachers and tutors should not be afraid to take risks and should not be afraid to fail. She said that it doesn’t come instantly, and it will take time to get used to online teaching using content creating.
Those who still wish to watch this discussion can click on this link:
Technology does not exist to replace teachers. It exists to make our teachers great at teaching. With a lot of Filipinos still adjusting to the new normal, Chalkboard believes that by holding these kinds of webinars, we can help a lot of our Kababayans to be more educated and enlightened with how learning from home can be transformational.