I just finished teaching a yearlong course on how to teach Jewish Supplementary School online. In reviewing the videos and discussions, I realized that there were lots of helpful nuggets that may be beneficial to share in a public forum.
This series of short blog articles addresses many of the questions, answers, and ideas shared in the course. This first mini-blog answers a few basic questions posed at the very beginning of OHEL when online learning was still a new idea to the majority of students. These questions are in reference to a presentation entitled, "The Pillars of Success."
Is "Synchronous Learning" the same as real-time learning?
Yes.
You mentioned that when kids get home from school, they often need to "get out the jitters" before they are ready to learn some more. What do you mean by "get out the jitters"?
Kids are anxious to do something other than sit and learn after they get home from eight hours of sitting and learning. They need the opportunity to play, move, express themselves, etc. Otherwise, it is hard for them to focus. There are many creative ways to bring this kinesthetic experience to online students, and it is often an essential ingredient when you are teaching children in an online learning environment.
What is "Formative Assessment Value"?
When teaching online or in the classroom, the class activities should align with your summative assessments by providing the students with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the assessments. Your activities should also serve as formative assessments so you can tell if your students are on track with their learning and are on their way to achieving the outcomes. Without formative assessments, you won't know if the students have reached the benchmarks you have set out before them. Therefore, some of your activities need to have "formative assessment value".
If you have questions about this presentation or would like permission to use it, please contact Stephanie Burak at Stephanie@LearnJewishly.com
