Virtual Classroom Teaching and Learning Tips (Ultra)
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:
8. Example Virtual Classroom Plan
| Description | Management | Time (mins) |
|---|---|---|
Introduce topics to be covered and run through agenda. | Click on the Share window to share the PowerPoint application. Turn on microphone and webcam. | 5 |
Cover first topic. | Turn off webcam, but continue sharing PowerPoint application and audio. | 10 |
Students to answer polling questions to check their understanding. | Open the Poll window and launch poll. Once students have responded, stop the poll and share results with students. | 5 |
Opportunity for students to ask questions through the chat or raise their hand to verbally ask a question. | Open Participants window and allow students with hands raised to speak. Open Chat window and answer any questions asked in the chat. | 5 |
Cover second topic. | Continue sharing PowerPoint application and audio. | 10 |
Students to use reactions to show whether they understand the topic. | Students to open Participants window and react. Monitor student reactions and then clear all reactions through the Manage Participants window. | 2 |
Opportunity for students to ask questions through the chat or raise their hand to verbally ask a question. | Open Participants window and allow students with hands raised to speak. Open Chat window and answer any questions asked in the chat. | 5 |
Place students into small groups within breakout rooms to complete activity and apply new knowledge. | Open Breakout Rooms window and automatically sort students into small groups. Students to join breakout rooms and participate in activity. Broadcast a message to breakout rooms when students have 2 minutes remaining. Close all breakout rooms with one minute remaining. | 10 |
Summarise content covered and remind students that recording will be available after the session. | Turn on webcam, but continue sharing PowerPoint application and audio. | 5 |