Hey graduate, is online teaching right for you? Featuring Allison Keefe

Welcome back to another episode of the EduMagic Podcast. Today I have with me Allison Keefe who is a 7th grade English teacher at Agora Charter school. She also the co-host of the cyber sisters podcast, and a KTI star from 2019. Today she is going to share what online teaching really is, how she gets to know her students behind the screen, and how you a teacher candidate can stand out for an online teaching position. So, let's get this party started!

Allison's teaching story

• Graduated with a degree in English literature

• Acquired a post baccalaureate degree in education

• She got a degree in her subject area and in education

• She never thought she would be teaching online, she has now been an online teacher for 8 years

What is online teaching?

• Traditional and online learning are more alike than different

• Asynchronous - Students move at their own pace. Teachers are still teaching live and meeting students where they are in their journey.

• Synchronous - Learning experience that is live and all together. Students and teachers are learning together at the same time.

• Use technology to connect and build relationships

What does an ordinary day look like for an online teacher?

• There is a lot of contact with students between classes

• Create content, materials, digital content

• Classes throughout the morning and MTSS

• Meetings include PLCs and data collection/reflection

Adapt instruction

• Speech to text

• Screen readers

• Visual content displayed

• Reduced answer choice

• Extended time on assignment/test

• UDL best practices with engagement, representation, and motivation.

• Structure and routine are important

• Space to manage emotions like a digital break room

Edtech that you love to use

• Learning management system

• Google Suite (docs, forms, spreadsheets)collaborate and connect with students

• Nearpod or Peardeck

• Actively Learn

Classroom management and getting to know students in an online space

• Engage students using technology

• Teach digital etiquette and empathy

• Teach digital literacy

• Tell them overtly - let's take a breath and get ready for class today

• Keep notes on students (birthdays and special events etc.)

• Use tech as a way to connect not just pedagogy

• Build-in 5 minutes at the beginning and end of the day for students to just chat and share.

• Students share pictures throughout the week

• Talk with each student individually - encourage them daily.

Advice for teachers looking to get into the online learning space

• Find out which technology tool that the school is using

• Do research on the school

• Learn about the edtech tool and get a free trial if you can

• Use tech as a tool of connection (how are you going to use edtech to build relationships?)

Don't miss this exciting learning opportunity the EduMagic Shine On Book club on Instagram starting June 1. We are so excited to use these summer months to gear up for your first year of teaching. Sign up here.

Connect with Allison

• Twitter @Allison K teaches - Allison Keefe

• Cyber sisters podcast - A podcast where Emily and Allison check out edtech tools that edtech coaches use in traditional learning spaces and how they can be used to support students in an online space.