Virtual teaching Style & Strategy
Dynamic Engagement: My approach centers on turning one-way lectures into two-way conversations using interactive elements like polls and real-time quizzes.
Creative Documentation: I emphasize student-led portfolios where learners document and reflect on their growth, making progress visible to both teachers and parents.
Gamified Learning: To maintain high energy, I integrate healthy competition and game-based assessments that spark curiosity and keep focus high throughout the lesson.
Personalized Support: I use real-time data to identify where students need extra help, allowing me to tailor content to individual learning styles and paces.
I love inquiry, Constructivism, and hands-on projects for online or virtual students. This video was intended to be 5 minutes long, but I did not want to rush it. The assignments for creating the weather forecast and a review are part of a NearPod interactive lesson. Another opportunity to review the content is through a Kahoot game. Thank you for taking a few minutes to take a glimpse of what happens in my virtual classroom!
Innovative Zoom & Virtual Teaching Tools
How to Make Teaching Effective & Fun!
Kahoot! Gamified Assessment Creates high-energy "thrill" with competitive quizzes; ideal for wrapping up sessions or switching gears mid-lesson.
Nearpod Interactive Presentations Transforms static slides into experiences with virtual field trips, 3D objects, and real-time drawing prompts.
Seesaw Digital Portfolios Connects teachers, students, and parents; allows students to "draw + record" to explain their thinking process.
Khan Academy Content Mastery Provides a robust library of self-paced practice and videos that "trick" kids into learning through a game-like point system.
Canva Creative Design Empowers students to create stunning infographics, videos, and interactive flashcards using professional templates.
Core Structure of the 3-2-1 Strategy
The strategy typically asks students to record the following after a lesson or activity:
3 Things Learned: Identifying key takeaways or new concepts.
2 Interesting Facts: Noting aspects that sparked curiosity or personal interest.
1 Question Remaining: Pinpointing lingering confusion or areas for deeper exploration.
Why Is This Style Pragmatic?
Active Reflection: It forces students to synthesize and evaluate information immediately, transforming abstract concepts into concrete "takeaways."
Student-Centered: The teacher uses these responses to adjust future lessons based on actual student needs and interests, reflecting the pragmatic belief that education should be responsive to the learner's reality.
Problem-Solving: By identifying a remaining "question," students are prompted to view learning as an ongoing, experimental process of solving gaps in their own understanding
Online Teaching Examples
Nearpod: Add a "Collaborate Board" at the end of a lesson where students post their 3-2-1 reflections as virtual sticky notes.
Seesaw: Have students record a video or draw their 3-2-1 responses in their digital portfolio to track their growth over time.
Kahoot!: Use an "Open-Ended" question type to quickly collect "one question students still have" at the close of a session
The 3 Pillars of Virtual Classroom Management
Presence Camera on (when possible), centered in frame, and a quiet workspace. Engagement requires "being there." Visibility allows for non-verbal feedback and connection.
Participation Use the "Raise Hand" feature, contribute to Chat, and engage in Breakout Rooms. Learning is an active, social process. If you aren't participating, you aren't experiencing.
Professionalism Mute when not speaking, use school-appropriate backgrounds, and arrive on time. Respect for the collective time ensures the "machine" of the classroom runs smoothly for everyone.
Emma Thompson
Specific Rules for an Innovative Classroom
The "Mic Check" Routine: Every session starts with a 1-minute tech check. Structure: Ensures no time is wasted on technical hurdles once the lesson begins.
The "Chat is a Tool, Not a Toy": Use the Zoom chat strictly for questions related to the 3-2-1 strategy or lesson content. Discipline: Keeps the focus on the task at hand while allowing for immediate inquiry.
Active Annotation: When I share my screen, students may be called to use Zoom’s Annotation tools to circle or highlight. Expectation: You must be ready to interact with the material at any moment.
The "Digital Handshake": Start and end every class with a specific reaction emoji (like a wave or a thumbs up). Structure: Creates a clear "beginning" and "end" to the academic mindset.
Oliver Hartman
Create Your Own Website With Webador