Strategies Starting Second Semester
Going into the new year, teachers have introduced new policies to increase class participation.
By Abigail Shlimenzon
Going into the new year, teachers have introduced new policies to increase class participation.
By Abigail Shlimenzon
As the second semester of distance learning starts, teachers are implementing new policies to help their class run smoother based on the obstacles they were faced with in the beginning of the school year.
Teachers are putting rules in place to increase student participation in hopes of encouraging students to turn on cameras and ask questions during class, yet these policies can also negatively contribute to students wanting to participate and increase stress due to privacy and technical issues. Chemistry teacher Laura Bald placed new policies in her class to encourage her students to participate and interact with the lessons by giving out participation points. “I am tracking participation and giving 10 points of participation each week,” Bald said. “The hope was to have more students answering questions in the chat box, participating in the Pear Decks, completing assignments during class time and more. |
Despite these new procedures in place, some teachers are struggling with the district’s decision on making cameras not mandatory while working with student’s reluctance to turn on cameras. English teacher Kathleen Quint feels like she is unable to connect with students who have their cameras off.
“It is so disappointing to not even know who some of these students are. Both their personality, and what they look like,” Quint said. “I could walk through Costco and some kid could know who I am and I wouldn’t know who they are, because I have no idea what they look like.”
Even though teachers appreciate and thank the students who have their cameras on, the vast majority avoids turning their cameras on when not forced to.
“I start each day thanking those students for having their cameras on and explain to them that it helps me as a teacher,” Bald said. “But still I only get about a fourth of the cameras on.”
These participation policies might help increase student participation but it could also lead to pressure for students. Heidi Spence, 12, feels more motivated when in an encouraging environment but understands the frustration teachers are experiencing.
“If teachers are less strict and more encouraging, and if other students have their cameras on, I think it creates an environment where students want to participate more,” said Spence. “I think more than anything, teachers need that human connection just like we do, which is why they are cracking down more on participation this semester.”
Sophia Aranda, 9, pointed out that teachers need to be aware that their stricter policies can create additional stress for students.
“Stricter semester policies can also add more stress in students' lives, teachers need to realize that students can’t control if they have technological difficulties or not,” said Aranda.
While these newly implemented rules have increased participation to a certain extent, teachers still feel the diminished presence of students in the online classroom.
“It is hard to stay motivated and be positive when you are talking to a black screen as I can't read my students for boredom, comprehension, or confusion (compared to) if you could see them,” Bald said.
In order to create a stress free learning environment, a compromise has to be made based on the current issues faced with distance learning so that both the teachers and students are satisfied with the policy.
“I think just being flexible and understanding is all they can do. We’re all struggling with the same things, the teachers and us students alike,” Spence said. “As long as they continue to be flexible when dealing with wifi crashes or camera issues, it will help all of us.”
“It is so disappointing to not even know who some of these students are. Both their personality, and what they look like,” Quint said. “I could walk through Costco and some kid could know who I am and I wouldn’t know who they are, because I have no idea what they look like.”
Even though teachers appreciate and thank the students who have their cameras on, the vast majority avoids turning their cameras on when not forced to.
“I start each day thanking those students for having their cameras on and explain to them that it helps me as a teacher,” Bald said. “But still I only get about a fourth of the cameras on.”
These participation policies might help increase student participation but it could also lead to pressure for students. Heidi Spence, 12, feels more motivated when in an encouraging environment but understands the frustration teachers are experiencing.
“If teachers are less strict and more encouraging, and if other students have their cameras on, I think it creates an environment where students want to participate more,” said Spence. “I think more than anything, teachers need that human connection just like we do, which is why they are cracking down more on participation this semester.”
Sophia Aranda, 9, pointed out that teachers need to be aware that their stricter policies can create additional stress for students.
“Stricter semester policies can also add more stress in students' lives, teachers need to realize that students can’t control if they have technological difficulties or not,” said Aranda.
While these newly implemented rules have increased participation to a certain extent, teachers still feel the diminished presence of students in the online classroom.
“It is hard to stay motivated and be positive when you are talking to a black screen as I can't read my students for boredom, comprehension, or confusion (compared to) if you could see them,” Bald said.
In order to create a stress free learning environment, a compromise has to be made based on the current issues faced with distance learning so that both the teachers and students are satisfied with the policy.
“I think just being flexible and understanding is all they can do. We’re all struggling with the same things, the teachers and us students alike,” Spence said. “As long as they continue to be flexible when dealing with wifi crashes or camera issues, it will help all of us.”