Top Seven Tips for Online Teaching
Are you stepping into the world of online teaching? Are you too worried and anxious to begin the online classroom teaching? No worries, here are "Top Seven Tips for Online Teaching" for you to equip with, to handle classes smoothly and to become an effective online teacher. Learn about the important strategies and skills through this article for teaching on a virtual setting and enter into the world of happy online teaching.
Introduction to Online teaching
Online teaching has gained an extraordinary momentum due to present Covid-19 and has opened a lot of opportunities for teachers. Online teaching has become popular, for classes can be conducted from any corner of the world. Physical classroom education has transformed into digital education and has become a new norm for student's alternative learning system. An Online teacher has to be equipped with the technology and the tools for conducting classes through a virtual platform. The teacher has to gather the information and the resources available to teach online easily and effectively. Here is "Top Seven Tips Online Teaching" for you to learn and become a successful online teacher. 
1. Planning Lesson
Planning is one of the most important parts of the teaching process. Plan the content to be delivered and make a lesson plan for the session. List out the objectives that you need to achieve for that particular class. Research the materials for the content and various resources that are to be used relevant for your topic. Jot down the points when and where to use the resources. Plan how to use the tools that are easy to share the information.
2. Preparation for online teaching
Once planning is done, start the process of preparation. Prepare the content that is age-appropriate and relevant to the students. Prepare texts for the class in the form of PowerPoint presentations. Use images or pictures in presentation slides for effective visual communication. Select pleasant backgrounds, font and styles on the slides. Do not include too many texts, use diagrams, smart charts to explain content. Save the presentations, videos, photos, audio, word documents ready for use during the class. Check and see if the files and folders can be accessed easily and would open without any hassles. Keep all the required devices fully charged to avoid uninterrupted network issues. Check for presentations before the class for any errors and make the corrections. Any problem in devices, gets it fixed if you face any issues during the session get help do not hesitate. 3. Presenting Yourself
You are the host and focus of your classroom. So being presentable to students is appreciated. Present yourself neatly to your class to avoid clumsiness while delivering the information. Practice diction and be well prepared with your content information. All students in your class observe you, so take extra care for your online image on the screen. 4. WorkSpace Setting
Set up an inviting work setting at home. Creating a workspace for handling virtual classes becomes very important in online teaching. You should create an ambience for working without any disturbances from television and family members. Find a space at home where you can take the classes, clear all the objects and set up the working equipment. Position the laptop/desktop on the table or desk to work upon and a comfortable chair to work. Set for a clear background; allow plenty of light for you to work on the system easily. Keep your mobile, resources like books, stationery near you. Note down the number of students attending or the record statistics. Check the camera for your image, position yourself so that your face is visible on the camera. If lighting is dull, fix a lamp to brighten up the room. 
5. Class Room Management
For effective teaching managing, a classroom becomes crucial to achieve the objectives of the session. Clear-cut instructions to be given to the students for their discipline in the virtual classroom. Set classroom rules for a positive learning environment. Instruct them to disable their audio and video when you are teaching. Tell them to enable if you want to view. They should be instructed on how to answer, how to remain silent and when to speak. Allow one student to speak at a time, otherwise, the class becomes noisy and unbearable. Mute all other students, call students name and then ask questions. Unmute the student whom you want to ask or get the answer from. If you want to know the progress of your class ask them to raise hands. Use chatbox if you want to share a message to a particular student or all the students in the meeting. 6. Content Delivery
Log in to your class at the correct time. Be calm and relaxed. Delivery of the content to the students has to be clear and interesting. Include at the beginning of the session a small activity or an exercise to involve all the students in the learning process. Be at ease while explaining, provide examples and allow for interactions. Create a comfortable atmosphere for students to learn. Share the resources at the accurate time and ask questions. Share videos of the short duration of two to three minutes. Relate your topic to the current situation, provide them with opportunities to think and answer. Be visible to the class for better participation of the students. Engage your students in the class otherwise they get bored and start troubling. Involve them in the learning process and make it a happy one. To make learning more interesting conduct online quiz on the topic, of 15 to 20/25 questions. This occupies them with 20 to 30 minutes in the session. So plan your class meticulously.
Appreciate students for being good, use visuals or gestures as a reward for good behaviour. Call out the names so that students feel they are part of the class and that you have noticed them. If you face any technical glitches during the session get help from students in the classroom itself. You learn from students too, they would be able to help in navigation or in using the tools etc. Some students would be more advanced in technology knowledge. At the end of the session, recap on the content you have delivered. Summarize the points and give an assignment for the students. Windup the class with a few words on precautions to be taken to be safe. Take a screenshot of your class/can be recorded for your future classes or for your references.
7. Online tools
Video conferencing enables teachers and students to interact and helps in the teaching-learning process. Having a strong and stable internet connection makes for the smooth functioning of your classes. There are adequate features installed in the dashboard for you to use during the class. Before you begin the class, check for audio and video tools for its proper functioning. Enable your video and audio when you begin the class. Online teaching is different from classroom teaching. Become familiar and master the technology, and tools that are to be used while teaching. You should equip yourself with the functions and actions that are required during your class.
Mute the students when you admit them into the class. Share screen feature allows you to share presentations and videos. Mute/ unmute the student if you want their response. Use disable the option in screen sharing controls for students annotations. This will avoid students who scribble on the share screen and disturb the class. Use a whiteboard to write or to illustrate Learn to use each feature in the dashboard- share screen, more option, chatbox, security setting, naming and renaming, making co-host, how to leave and end the meeting. How to allow and disable students audio and video, how to allow for students to share screen etc. Conclusion
You are the best judge of your class, analyze yourself what went well and what did not go well. Reflect on your session. Learn from your experiences where you need to take the extra mile to be more productive. Make changes where ever possible to make classes better and for better teaching. There is no limit for excelling in teaching and you need to be a learner always in the field of education. Let your dream of teaching be successful and joyful!!
Picture source - jenny