Although fully online learning is a savings grace for our learners, one of the downsides for teachers experiencing the transition is having to design online learning in a fast and furious manner. Although it is wonderful to have a plethora of online tools and resources, sometimes it feels like too much. I speak about how to think about keeping a program simple and streamlined at the onset. It is important to think about learning online as making meaning for the learners, not just as a means to deliver content that will be quickly forgotten or tossed aside. Making meaning of the learning comes out of using the right tools, interactivity and finding meaningful investigations and choice projects for learners.
Reducing digital clutter also means monitoring personal clutter in rudimentary ways such as keeping out of being inundated with news, social media, e-mails or texts. In this stressful time, it is easy to get lost in an information overflow. I am grateful to share some of the basic tips that have worked for me and to also share some of the areas of my own that need improvement. By opening myself up as a reflective teacher who has been engaging in online learning and taking many workshops, I hope to take out the self-consciousness of feeling the awkwardness of transitioning from in-person and hybrid models to fully online teaching. Thank you for listening and stay safe (at home) if your local authorities are calling for it!!
