adequate feedback on all assignments,
offer tips for improvement on future
assignments, and invite student–
student or individual assessment options at times. If you find major problems with assignments, have a discussion with your students. Remember,
this is an online environment where
you do not see your students on a
daily basis. If they are not performing well, give them the opportunity
to make things up or modify an assignment. Don’t assume that your
students were born with remarkable
motivation and the ability to complete
assignments on their own.
Taking the Leap
Online teaching comes with a host
of new responsibilities, and you have
to stay organized, positive, and up to
date on the latest technologies. On my
first day, emails and phone calls came
rushing in, and I had to remind myself
several times throughout the first week
that I would eventually get the hang
of virtual school. I realized that an ex-
ploratory mindset, motivation, and a
positive attitude would be essential for
my survival in this new frontier.
Acknowledgment
Thank you to Michael J. Berson, professor of
social science education at the University of
South Florida, USA, who contributed to this
article. Berson is also director of the USF
iteach program and a senior fellow in The
Florida Joint Center for Citizenship.
Holly McBride is an online high school social studies teacher in Florida, USA. She is also a social science education PhD student at the University of South Florida in Tampa. Her research interests include how technology affects social studies and distance learning.
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