eLearning

Virtual Classroom Teaching and Learning Tips (Ultra)

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A virtual classroom is an online learning environment that allows for live interaction between the instructor and students, regardless of location, through a video conferencing system. The university's video conferencing system, Zoom, can be used to host:

  • virtual lectures for large classes where students are mostly passive learners
  • interactive tutorials (with approx. 35 participants) where students are active learners
  • individual consultations where a student can meet with the instructor one-on-one

Zoom has a range of functionality to help facilitate an interactive and engaging virtual learning environment. Zoom allows you to:

  • share your screen or specific applications (i.e. a presentation through PowerPoint)
  • annotate on top of your shared screen or using a shared virtual whiteboard
  • view other participants' screens (subject to settings)
  • conduct polls to gage prior knowledge or opinions on a particular topic
  • encourage student feedback through reactions
  • communicate with participants through the in-meeting chat
  • facilitate group work with breakout rooms

The following guide includes a range of tips to support staff in facilitating a virtual classroom environment:

  1. Preparing for a Virtual Classroom
  2. Pre-Session
  3. Introductory Session
  4. During the Session
  1. Post-Session
  2. Tips for Virtual Consultations
  3. Tips for Virtual Tutorials and Seminars
  4. Example Virtual Classroom Plan

7. Tips for Virtual Tutorials and Seminars

  • Schedule all tutorials and seminars directly through Learn.UQ. Refer to the Schedule a Zoom meeting via Learn.UQ guide.
  • Use the meeting as a peer assessment session where students take turns sharing their work on an assessment and seek feedback from their peers.
  • Use breakout rooms and manually assign students to work in their assignment groups. They will be able to share their screen and discuss the assignment using the chat and their microphones. Refer to the Getting Started with Breakout Rooms guide by Zoom.
  • As a follow up to the virtual tutorial/seminar, students can schedule their own meetings with their group members through Zoom to work collaboratively on assessment tasks. Refer students to the Virtual Classroom (Zoom) student guides.