Vol 2: Issue 1. Jan. 2022

By Cate Dowman, Instructional Designer

Remote learning can be challenging even more so for students with learning differences. The following best practices can help ease learner anxiety and boost motivation.

When Displaying Information Online

• Chunk information. Break down content, especially learning activities, into short manageable steps and include clear instructions
• Minimize the amount of “text” on the screen and make use of white space to accommodate students with visual-perceptual difficulties.
•  Keep videos such as Youtube or Vimeo short (3 mins or less)  
  

Be Present

• Let your students know you’re there. Some students will be experiencing anxiety and confusion about due dates and online class expectations
• Be active with Blackboard announcements, discussion board posts, email.
• Post short video introductions of the week's objectives and learning activities
  

Go Big on Communication

• Be explicit with directions on where to find what they need, how to use a tool and assignment due dates. 
• Give timely feedback and consider mixing it up (oral, written, video).
• Communicate often and respond frequently to student posts, questions, and comments.

Foster Student Engagement

• Give options for participation and assessment
• Give options for synchronous communication
• Online office hours
• 1:1 student meetings with a clear agenda
• Small group discussions
• Zoom Chat 
  

Accessibility for All

• Label images with an alt text if the image is connected to the learning.
• Check students have access to alternative file sources that can be read by assistive technology. Consider enabling ALLY in Blackboard (Academic Technologies can help set this up)
  
• Avoid using font colors that can be difficult to read such as red, green, orange, yellow, pink and light blue
  
• Keep font size 12 or larger
• Use bold to highlight important information instead of underlining
• Underline links and hyperlinks only

Self-Monitoring

• Students can experience difficulties keeping pace with assignment and due dates because of the online environment. Landmark College have an excellent list of self-monitoring tools and tips on how to help students who face challenges.

While these practices are designed to support students with learning challenges they can enhance the experience of all learners.

Reference

Landmark College Institute for Research and Training

Each month we search the internet to bring you the latest on tools, research, ideas and learning.

In this session, we will explore active learning and collaboration strategies to engage your students through student to content, student to student, and student to teacher interactions.

Led by Instructional Designers Ariella St. Rose and Maite Saco, and Law School's Academic Technologist, Sean Paul Monnar, this virtual event is part of the Distance Learning Institute’s ongoing series, EdTech Café. This series occurs every third Wednesday & Thursday of the month to assist the University of Miami faculty in creating successful, engaging courses.