“By changing nothing, nothing changes.”
Tough times call for radical changes and one such change that has occurred in the last year is the shift to online teaching and learning. We are living in a digital age where everything from food to hospitals is online and just a click away. The pandemic just catalyzed the process which was anyway happening. Let’s just say that the shift was not gradual.
Online teaching has become a household term now and a lot of people have started seeing it as a way to make money online.
There are certain things that have to be kept in mind before you set forth to teach online. Choosing the right online teaching platform is one of the most important things that one should keep in mind. Now, how do you understand if the online teaching platform that you have chosen is the right one or not? Here are pointers to help you choose the right online teaching app.
How To Choose the Right Online Teaching App?
1. Choose an Affordable Online Teaching App
Bear in mind that quality is not always expensive. You don’t want to end up spending more than you are earning. Ensure that you choose an online teaching app that is easy on your pockets. For instance, teachmint is a free online teaching app that has a host of features like a virtual whiteboard, automated attendance, fee management, easy content sharing, and more. With no hidden charges and zero ads, it is a one-of-a-kind platform that enables teachers to take their classes online. Always choose a free app.
2. Conduct Thorough Research and Understand your Requirements
There are various kinds of online teaching apps and you might not need all the features. So, it is important to understand what you want to achieve, how many students you would be handling, and likewise. Choose an app according to your requirements. Some apps do not allow more than forty participants in a classroom and certain others have a time limit. If your student base is small, you can opt for such apps. However, it is advisable to choose apps such as Teachmint that has zero restriction on the number of students as well as no time limit.
3. Check the Security and Privacy
There are a lot of apps that zoom into the privacy of people and this is a major concern for a lot of people who are just starting out. Ensure that you trust the app. For instance, in Teachmint the students don’t get to see the number of other students, and teachers need to approve each enrollment request. In an era where everything is monetized, you can never be too careful.
4. Easy and Simple User Interface
The last thing that teachers need is an app that is difficult to understand. The same applies to students. The online teaching app has to be simple and easy to understand. The UI should not be all complicated. This will just hinder the teaching-learning process.
5. Interactivity and Live Classes
Communication and interaction are of paramount importance when it comes to quality education. Teachers cannot be taken out of the equation and recorded classes won’t do much good if there is zero interaction. Recorded classes are necessary but those act as extra study material or as a help for students who missed a class or two. Two-way communication is essential to ensure that the online classes are effective. Choose a platform where you can go live with a click.
6. Internet Usage
One of the prime concerns while teaching online is network connectivity. The best way to curb this is to choose an app that works even the connection is a little slow. You don’t want the classes to be disrupted and this is how you can be proactive.
There is a common misconception that online classes are drab and boring. It can be made interesting by choosing the right online teaching app and by including innovative teaching methods. No matter whether you are teaching online or offline, the important thing is to teach from the heart.
“Teachers who love teaching, teach children to love learning.”
Happy Teaching!
