Monitoring Techniques For Student Learning

      Assessing students' is a process used by teachers during teaching that provides feedback to modify constant education and learning to improve students' achievement and get purposeful results.

      When you monitor students, you allow them to clear-up misunderstandings, so they don't go home and re-do the errors in their homework. The more instructions, feedback, and adjustments occur, the more the students will reach the planned goals and objectives of the lesson.

      Being an effective teacher is all about keeping a close eye on students' progress and using several techniques for changing instructional activities when needed. Here are some monitoring techniques to deepen the students understanding and learning:

• Entrance and Exit Tickets

      I never heard of such a technique until I experienced it. Using exit tickets is an excellent way to recap the material covered in the session, assess students' understanding, and take notes on how and what they learned. I started using this one in the Educational Media and Technology course, where Dr. Amal Farhat introduced this unique technique to us, and since that day, I began using it in my class using sticky notes where students write a sentence, keyword or answer a question at the end of the session.

• Summarizing

      Summarizing the content at the end of the session helps students grasp their learning targets. This instantly directs teachers which students need an adjustment in teaching. 

What Can I Do Now That I Weren't Able to Do a Year Ago?

      One year ago, our lives used to be a little more complicated and complex than today. Going outside the house and meeting people was risky because of the spread of Coronavirus, and since the vaccination campaigns were just at their beginning which made it even harder for us to teach, learn and work from outside our homes. However, today's life has become more comfortable and less risky due to many vaccinated people. 

      One year ago, I couldn't teach students private lessons except using google meet or zoom. I never had the opportunity to meet my students in person and see what fundamental classroom interactions feel like. Teaching at that time felt frustrating and overwhelming. I even decided to further my studies with a Master's Degree away from education because it was exhausting to continue in this domain. The energy loses its edge by keeping everyone, including us, teachers, motivated.

      Looking at today's life makes me regret what I was thinking about. Teaching in person is entirely a different experience where you get to see what real student-teacher interaction feels like; you get to develop deeper and more meaningful relationships with other teachers and students. And what is special about this year is that I'm teaching private lessons and an official teacher at a school. 

      Covid-19 flipped our lives, and I genuinely believe that is we will face long-term changes to the way we live our lives because of it. Day by day, things get back to normal, but when will be the day we will take our masks?

Challenges I Face When Teaching Online

      The Coronavirus pandemic and the extended lockdown caused by it have made learning and working the new routine from home. This situation has changed many aspects of life, especially teaching. All stakeholders, starting from students, teachers, and school principals, are forced to overcome these rash online learning ways.

 

      But is distance teaching easy? Of course not, many problems are being faced till today even though two years have passed on the beginning of the online learning usage, but some issues still pop up that can't be controlled, not like the in-person teaching where the only concern was about roads closure due to snow. Here are the most two problems I've faced with online teaching and still face them quite a few times that need to be tackled for successful education:

• Technical Issues:

      Technical issues and internet connection only add to the online environment's frustration and interrupt learning sessions. Sometimes it worsens when the Internet connection is unstable, and the current data plan is insufficient to cover the progressive online learning needs. For example, your computer might shut down, or your Wi-Fi connection is spotty. Such minor issues may cancel the class, which we try to avoid.

Unfortunately, such issues can't be solved, and the painful truth is we all have to adjust to a slow Internet speed in the middle of the coronavirus lockdown.

• Restricting Cheating:

      Whether we like it or not, quite a few students try to cheat while using online learning. Tackling these students isn't easy, and it requires a well-designed system by professionals. So, I think that educational institutions should minimize the possibility of students decreasing the value of assessments used to enhance the learning of the class and the students. 

     So, instead of having students answer questions that can be found on the Internet, design questions on the analysis and evaluation levels. It is also recommended to have many versions of the same exam to be less possible for them to have all the same exercises.

What Should Students be Taught When Working Online to Avoid Problems?

      Due to the spread of Coronavirus worldwide, education is being thrown into a mess. More and more schools are being forced to turn to online learning. As a teacher, it's our responsibility, with the help of parents, to turn this atmosphere into an interactive and exciting one.

      It's essential to remember that, even though our students are technology addicts, many aren't that experienced when diving into strange stuff or using it responsibly. Therefore, an initial introduction to technology session is a good idea, and we must also consider giving parents a brief orientation because they should also guide their children, especially during virtual learning. 

      Plus, no matter how hard teaching online might look and feel to us but not more complicated than it seems to students, especially at a young age. As a new Mathematics and Science teacher, I now find it easier to use technology than two years ago when online learning started, and I was still an undergraduate student. Students went from classrooms organized to support learning to bedrooms and kitchen tables where distractions are plentiful and expert support isn't always available, making it even harder for them. In return, it decreases their motivation to learn. So, introducing the students to educational gamified apps and programs is a way to boost motivation. 

    It is challenging to keep privacy online since we do not know who controls our data and its security. So, as instructors, we can spare some time to guide learners on how their information is stored on various apps and websites. Furthermore, we should teach them how to prevent unauthorized individuals from acquiring their data quickly. For example, by teaching them how to set strong passwords.

     In addition, designing policies may not seem like the most suitable way to guarantee safety because students are always curious and want to see what would occur if they violated the rules. Nevertheless, they need to comprehend that the regulations are suggested for their security and safety. Therefore, we as teachers should explain to the students the significance of internet rules and direct them on how to use the Internet safely to avoid problems.

How to be a Digital Citizen?

      We live in a world where the Internet has become a massive part of our everyday lives. It is used for work, education, learning new skills, connecting with friends and family members, and many other purposes that can make our lives more comfortable. Although the Internet has made our lives easier, keeping up with its growth can be challenging. And what I mean exactly is that the digital world is more than people think, and the actions performed in it have real-life consequences.

      Because technology is so dominant in our schools, we often worry about preventing cyberbullying, disruptions, distractions, and plagiarism.

    We, as teachers, have a responsibility to educate young internet users on how to use the Internet positively and safely. Here are some critical points every teacher should highlight regarding the Internet so that the students are Good Digital Citizens:

• Don't steal

      With the presence of ready information about unlimited topics students look for on the Internet, it is vital to be aware of plagiarism which means copying others' words without giving credit might result in a criminal violation punishable by law. Teaching students about how bad it is to steal, copy, or even play with someone else's words can negatively influence them. Even though the Internet permits us to read and surf but that's only to help, assist and give us additional data about what we are looking for.

• Always be nice to others.

     No matter how much kindness we see on the Internet, that does not cover the wrong side. That's why it is essential to deal with people kindly and nicely because no one knows what others are or may pass through. Instead of assaulting or bullying someone on the Internet, use it contrarily, encouraging and supporting them. Students need to know that they have to treat each other with the same respect online as they do in person. Remind them that the comments or posts they write affect others, even if it's just a joke or unintended. So, before posting anything, they should ask themselves: How would I feel if this post was about me? 

• Be aware

       A typical factor of the Internet is that people can lie easily without us knowing, and that's to steal personal information, take something from us, etc., and then threaten us later on, which is very dangerous. As teachers, we have to convince, teach and open our students' eyes about this problematic aspect because it can lead to terrible consequences.

Tools That Can be Used in Online Assessment

     Teachers must know how well their students assimilate lessons to avoid leaving anyone behind. So, as teachers, we have to assess each student at the end of the semester and present a final grade that reflects their knowledge and level of effort. But is that enough? Of course NOT! We have to assess the students daily to check how much information they grasped to see if they understood the concept to attain the skill that will allow them to face a constantly changing world.

    Teachers' online assessment tools are necessary for online learning. We need to know what our students comprehend from one day to another Assessing students helps evaluate their progress and enhances their performance by motivating them. Here's a list of the four most used interactive yet practical online assessment tools:

• Google Forms 

     It's quick and straightforward to create and automatically grade quizzes and exams. You can create all forms of questions like multiple-choice or short-answer quizzes and make an easy answer key by grading each question. A plus point is that google forms include the collaborative feature and where you can add whomever you want as a collaborator in the state you have designed and take their opinions and edits.

• Mentimeter

     It gives teachers everything they need to engage their learners and allows every voice to be heard. Full of icebreakers, formative assessments, post-lecture questions, and polls. You can construct quizzes and tests, evaluate students' performance, and engage them. As a teacher, you can also follow learning and understanding by asking questions and downloading results after Communicating and interacting with your students.

• Poll Everywhere 

     It is an application that can form questions as word clouds, open student responses, or multiple-choice options. It helps teachers in creating group-based quizzes to gamify their teaching. And after that, the teacher can display live results to discuss during the teaching period.

• Quizlet 

     A good feature of Quizlet is the Flashcards, a quick way to help students review terms and definitions and a variety of study games for them. Regarding assessment, it helps teachers develop tests and quizzes, create classes, and invite students to them. 

     Many other online tools help teachers assess their students' performance, and day by day, these tools are improving and popularizing in the world, and other new ones are being developed. 

Integrating Technology into Teaching

     We as teachers always try our best to think about ways that improve students' performance, and I believe that technology can help us accomplish this aim. Incorporating technology into education makes teachers' jobs more manageable, increases students' attention, and extends a new space for learning where students are given more freedom.

     When we integrate technology into the classrooms, we allow various learning technologies and tools to boost the teacher's ability to engage students. Technological devices have unlimited resources and interactive activities that give fun opportunities to the students to practice what they learn while keeping them engaged and displaying on-task behavior. 

     It can be integrated by having smartboards that bring up visuals and videos and allow students to collaborate in real-time on the display because students often lose motivation due to the lack of collaboration. Also, it can be integrated through computers, laptops, and tablets, permitting students to watch videos and interact with new media. Students enjoy using technologies that inspire them to continue learning and create intrinsic motivation.