Virtual Office Austin Tx
Hours of operation are virtual. That phrase probably dredges up either of two images in your mind: (A) hours of boredom and clock watching as you linger in solitude for students to take edge among one time to you, or (B) the five hours of the week where some of the shallowest student connections, content engagement, and learning takes place.
We know how tough it is to persuade students to come to our office hours directly after class and while we're only down the hall; how can we ever get them to come to these hours virtually?
Let me share a few of my favourite virtual office austin and tips that will have students lining up at your (virtually) door, eager to participate!
Use technology to your advantage
To keep your office hours, choose a superb virtual tool. Zoom is my go-to tool for this. I may create one link at the beginning of class and utilise it throughout the semester. Zoom allows them to put students in a "waiting room" so that I can work with them alone before admitting or meeting with the next one.
Zoom also encourages cooperation with tools such as a notepad; members can take their screen with me (and their work), and I can then take control of the screen if I wish to highlight or completely clear something.
The importance of consistency cannot be overstated
Maintain a consistent schedule for your virtual meetings. Each week, include a link to a virtual office hours on your curriculum, on our apartment door, in your LMS, somewhere at the end with your PowerPoint slides and perhaps other lecture tools, and in your weekly bulletins to several of the links.
Have an easy means for children to sign up for a certain capacity to catch with you if feasible; you may share a Google Reader link or use a programme like YouCanBookMe to do so (a favourite of my students).
Students are more likely to hop on and join if they have more possibilities to see when you are available.
Encourage people to come
Give pupils a reason to attend. If you're doing something students enjoy and value, they'll be more willing to attend telecommuting hours.
I frequently use my office minutes to watch games based on course material, and then award little rewards to the "winners," such as an extra credit point or a voucher, something they value. I've developed reward vouchers for things like "turning in one task up to 24 hours late with no penalty" or a "50/50 question," in which students can ask my one quandary during a quiz or an exam and I'll cross off all but two of the answers.
Games encourage kids to participate by creating a joyful, competitive environment. Using resources from your publisher's materials, it's simple to make games.
Make new contacts
Finally, and this is a key one, be proactive in reaching over to students and engaging with them during office hours. I consider every hour a gift of involvement if no one shows up.
Did a student in class provide a really intelligent response to a question? Send the student another email thanking them for their valuable contribution to the class discussion.
Is a pupil absent from class? Send them an email expressing your regret for their absence and reminding them that the presentation was captured and is available on the LMS (if applicable).
Do you know of any athletes, performers, or musicians who have lately competed? Send them a word of appreciation and congrats.
Isn't it almost time for some advice? Send customised reminder emails to students and inform them about the course they will be taking next semester.
Is there going to be a large paper? Send a letter to a participant who challenged the first paper, asking if they'd want to set up a time to talk about their idea.
Finally, I use this time to contact students and ask them to "assist" me at the very next synchronised class session by preparing an example ready to give when we discuss a certain topic or describing a concept around their own words. This increases participation and establishes a relationship with the learner during the synchronous session—all while going to take advantage of my office hours!
