Finally hitting my stride in online classes

Japan
May 11, 2020 11:49pm CST
I have been teaching music online since March 2 and our school year will be online through June 16. For the first month, I thought we would be going back after spring break, so I just sent in assignments for each grade by email. When we realized this was going to be a while, I suddenly had to learn to record myself doing lessons on Seesaw, meet kids on Google Meets and Zoom, etc. I am a musician who is used to being on stage but for some reason I hate being on video or live video chat. That has taken a lot of getting used to. For the past few days, I'm learning more and more how I can relate to the people on my screen (my students that used to be in my classroom so I know them) as opposed to feeling "on camera" all the time. I realized today during my two classes that I was nearly unaware of teaching through a camera (figured that out when I started demonstrating a song on xylophone where they couldn't see me doing it... then I went "Oh, hold on, gotta get in the camera frame.") The other thing is that I can't control their behavior from the other side of the screen. I finally realized that since the parent is in the room, if they don't care that their kid is eating a banana or throwing their stuffed animal around, it doesn't matter, even though that would definitely not happen in my classroom! I'm feeling much better about online teaching. Next up is learning to do screen share, which I messed up today (oh well). How are you adapting to life as it is currently?
4 people like this
5 responses
@Deepizzaguy (122070)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
12 May 20
It is taking me a while to get used to speaking with my doctor on a video machine instead of face to face.
1 person likes this
• Japan
12 May 20
Yes, that would be difficult.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (122070)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
13 May 20
@petatonicsca I have seen that video monitor on the new cartoons but never in real life.
@JudyEv (381815)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 May 20
Thankfully We haven't had to learn too many new things. I hope the kids adapt back to being in a classroom and don't start throwing things around!
@cherriefic (10399)
• Philippines
12 May 20
Good that youre getting used to it. That makes it easier.
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
12 May 20
you have to learn a lot of new technology, and the sound and picture should be good. it's disappointing how the parent don't make their children behave during your lessons.
@mrki444 (15162)
• Croatia (Hrvatska)
12 May 20
I am good adapted.