LIST: Simple Tips Teachers Can Do To Improve Video Calls

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List Of Simple Tips Teachers Can Do To Improve Video Calls

VIDEO CALLS – Here are certain tips and suggestions teachers can do in order to improve your next video calls with your students.

VIDEO CALLS
Image from: Rappler

In this time, we are told to stay at home in order to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019. In the case of teachers and students, they are opted to do online learning via giving students homework or video conference. Fortunately, you can do so with the use of apps like Skype, Zoom, or Google hangout.

There are times when this was delayed by technical issues or you might be unfamiliar with the platform or unexpected events. So, here are some tips teachers or instructors can take to improve their next video calls, according to TeachThought:

Tips

  1. Know Which Platform to Use
    • Although they do the same feature which is video conference, they differ in features like default settings, bandwidth requirements, etc. You must know the goods and bads of the app before you begin calling.
  2. Schedule your calls
    • This is a common thing for most meetings. online or not, and is still effective since the students can stay updated and prepare themselves for the next session
  3. Light your face
    • Basically, it means to make your face as an instructor not just visible, but also clear. This sets the mood and overall engagement, as well as credibility of the online meeting.
  4. Choosing the right camera angle
    • Like taking selfies, camera angle is effective since you want your students to focus on you as the lecture. Having visual aids makes it even more vital. The wrong angle could be distracting.
  5. Sound Qualilty
    • Even if you do not have the best micropohone or a pop filter, you can still improve your sound quality by tweaking it such as adjusting the volume, your distance from the mice, minimize background noise, and more/
  6. Punctuality
    • This is the same as in real life. Do not be late for class especially since you are the teacher and usually the one who sets these scheduled sessions.
  7. Set Video Call Norms
    • Basically, you place etiquette or manners in a video conference. Like in the real classroom, you place the do’s and don’ts of a video call
  8. Fixate on the Schedule
    • having time-bound clear objecives may or may not be vital but time runs so fast especially on a video call so you must have guidelines on what to do next.
  9. Provide materials and documents before the meeting
    • You have to do this at least days or a week before your scheduled conference. Providing these that are related to your next lesson can help the students be informed on the things to know before lesson starts.
  10. Set an intro and outro
    • Set an intro where you provide and agenda and schedule as teachers. and an outro where you summarize the key points of the lesson and the follow up for the next meeting.
  11. Use pauses intentionally
    • This is in the case that we do not have high-end streaming, we do this after certain points in the conversation which allows others to jump in, follow up, or communicate
  12. Using the right background
    • Like lighting, the background is also important. Its best if you have a plain background with nothing too distracting to see.
  13. Observe student privacy
    • Student privacy is important, especially in conversations. You must know what to open up in a video conference and what topics that are best sent via email or phone.
  14. Take notes
    • This is a common norm that is also useful in a video conference.
  15. Loop your approval
    • You can customize your background to make it seem like you are there or loop the background to make it seem that you are engaging with your students.
  16. Do a practice call
    • Since it is an important one, practice makes perfect.
  17. Signal Checking
    • Make sure your Wi-Fi or cellular data is enough since you are the one hosting the video conference.

What do you think? How will you react to this? Let us know more about it in the comments below.

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