【Online Teaching Support】Report from a teacher in Victoria, Australia
2020.04.24
1. Do you teach using the Internet? Do you teach live online?
We commenced online teaching and learning on Wednesday (16 April). We are using Google Meet to facilitate online video classes. Google Classroom is also used with staff to upload content for lessons.
2. If you teach live online, what challenges do you face? How are you solving them?
Not all students have internet access at home or unlimited internet plans. There is the option for hard copies of work to be left at the front office and these will be sent home. We have reduced the lesson length during this time of online learning, and we have built in 'self-directed time' at the end of the day where students can collaborate, plan or prepare for future classes.
3. If you don't teach live online, how do you teach? What kind of content do you use now that you didn't use before?
Our teachers are doing a blend of synchronous learning ('live' video calls using 'Google Meet') and asynchronous learning (where students are self-directed and access work from Google Classroom/their emails and complete this at their own pace).
4. How are your students responding to your online lessons?
They have adapted really well to online learning. We have made a smooth transition at the College to online learning through supporting teachers by giving time to plan and prepare for online learning, and through communicating information to parents to ensure they are well supported.
5. If you use a combination of methods (e.g., live online lessons plus recorded video lessons), how do you combine them?
We use the Google Suite of apps at the College. This integrated series of apps enables students to engage in both synchronous (using Google Meet) and asynchronous (using Google Classroom) learning.
6. Please tell us about what has worked successfully for you.
Using technology is a great way to support and engage students in their learning of Japanese. My lessons so far have included the use of Google Meets. Students also have access to a Google Classroom for Japanese where they have been able to access Quizlet games to learn vocabulary as well as links to other resources such as YouTube clips. Google Forms is also a great way to get feedback from students about their learning.
