Remote Teaching: 7 Simple Ways Teachers Can Create an Effective Home Office
It is undeniable that education is no longer limited within the four corners of a classroom. So much so that English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers reach more than one million worldwide.
Here's the thing: Online learning benefits both the students and teachers. The only drawback is that ESL teachers must practice self-accountability.
That said, here are seven ways to do it:
Get a dedicated room
As a remote teacher, you must be free of distractions while working. Hence, it is advisable to have a dedicated room.
Doing so prevents your family members from disturbing you when you have an online class. Thus, you can teach your students with ease.
You should have a dedicated room so that you are not disrupting your family's day-to-day life.
Experiment with colors
The color of your room can have an impact on your motivation and productivity as an ESL teacher.
However, you do not want to decorate your walls in a way that produces too much visual clutter. That's because it can distract your students from paying attention to you and your lessons.
What paint you want for your walls will depend on your preference. The same thing goes with your wall decors.
And while you should consider how your background will look on the screen, don't hesitate to add some personality to your room.
Consider using a backdrop
If you cannot re-paint your walls, consider using a backdrop. That way, you are sure that your background looks decent and free of visual clutter.
Speaking of visual clutter, go for a plain backdrop as much as possible. We also suggest backdrops in light or pastel colors so that it is not getting too much attention.
Another feature you can take advantage of is virtual backgrounds. These days, online video communication apps allow users to use their built-in background images. But as mentioned earlier, ensure that it is not making any more visual clutter.
Ensure good lighting
Aside from wall colors, the quality of lighting in your room can help boost your productivity.
Poor lighting can cause eyestrain and headaches, dampening your effectiveness as an ESL teacher.
As much as possible, you should let natural light come into your room. Otherwise, install a LED light. That's because it is energy efficient and is believed to imitate daylight.
Thus, it prevents eyestrain and headaches and helps boost your creativity.
Test your tech before class
As an online ESL teacher, a stable internet connection, speedy laptop or desktop computer, headset, and web camera are necessary. You may also need to use various online tools and programs to make your online lessons extra interactive.
But more than that, you should set aside at least 30 minutes before your class. That way, you can test whether your communication tools and teaching programs are working efficiently.
We also suggest doing a speed test to know whether your internet connection is stable enough to conduct an online lesson.
Stay clutter-free and organized
As an online ESL teacher, it is imperative to stay clutter-free and organized.
It can be as simple as setting an online calendar reminder. That way, you would know whether you have a class today and what lessons you will need to teach.
And since we are moving the classroom online, ensure that your files are organized. Doing so can help you open up necessary files without hassle.
Establish work-life boundaries
The issue with working from home is that there is a blurry line that separates work and life. This explains why remote teachers end up overworked and have less time with their family.
If you are one of them, we suggest establishing boundaries.
For instance, your mornings are strictly for online teaching, while your afternoons are for evaluating grades and updating your lesson plan. After that, you should not accept any student-related inquiries, as dinner time is family time.
Do you need to attend a school-wide meeting for online ESL teachers? Mark it on your calendar and sure that you have no other appointment for that day. Doing so prevents such sessions from taking the bulk of your time while ensuring that you can focus on the discussion.
Conclusion
Working as an online ESL teacher has its perks. There is no need to commute to school, and you can control how many students you can cater to for the day.
However, it also has its drawbacks, like spending hours sitting in front of a computer. Luckily, the following tips can help you be an effective and productive remote teacher:
- Get a dedicated room
- Experiment with colors
- Consider using a backdrop
- Ensure good lighting
- Test your tech before class
- Stay clutter-free and organized
- Establish work-life boundaries
By following these tips, you can provide lively and interactive lessons to your students without compromising family time. Lastly, you get to leverage technology to do what you love most. And that is helping your students be proficient in English.
About the Author: Raymond Chiu is the Director of Operations for Maid Sailors Office Cleaning Service NYC. Maid Sailors take pride in providing outstanding office cleaning services at affordable prices.
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