Lessons Learned About Teaching Online During the Pandemic - Steven Downes

• The old is traditional teaching – new is online – this will take time to understand tech and methods – allow ourselves the time to become more familiar.
• Learning is social.  We needed to learn to adapt and rely on how others did things. Take a village…online doesn’t work if it’s just one or two people that are able to do the online learning.
• Cameras on or off doesn’t mean engaged or disengaged.
• Teaching is also social – Teaching feels like a solitary profession, but there’s a need to be socializing with others in the building and have facilities to be accessed. Think of online teaching as presenting the news on TV.
• We need live events – the unpredictability and conversation needs to be original and organic.
• Open media plays a key role. So much easier to access and find resources. Not just content but software, access and time.
• Quality is not guaranteed. Truth, accuracy. Need to make your own judgements. Quality matters
• Teaching is more than broadcasting.  Long drawn out videos are counterproductive. Get away from the computer. It’s a tool, but not the whole job.
• Reading the room is hard. It needs to be deliberate.
• We need structure, order and routines. The physical building was the most structured place some students know and need.
• It’s not just about school subjects.