6 Reasons Why You'll Need Online Units To Deliver Work To Students Remotely
And Why Google Docs Might Be The Key
Teachers are scrambling to figure out how to deliver work to their students remotely.
Well, not all teachers. Many teachers know exactly what to do and how to do it. Or if they don’t, it won’t be too daunting for them to work it out.
However, many teachers will struggle.
The first go-to all that teachers will be reaching for is some sort of live stream technology. And fair enough - a live stream will be essential.
However, I believe there is another aspect to the ‘Deliver Work Remotely’ challenge which is ALMOST as important as a live stream - and I’d bet my last roll of dunny paper that many teachers won’t utilise it.
The aspect I’m referring to is some form of online unit. Actually, many online units to be precise because schools will likely be closed for months, i.e. for at least 2-4 units/class-worth-of-time.
Well, not all teachers. Many teachers know exactly what to do and how to do it. Or if they don’t, it won’t be too daunting for them to work it out.
However, many teachers will struggle.
The first go-to all that teachers will be reaching for is some sort of live stream technology. And fair enough - a live stream will be essential.
However, I believe there is another aspect to the ‘Deliver Work Remotely’ challenge which is ALMOST as important as a live stream - and I’d bet my last roll of dunny paper that many teachers won’t utilise it.
The aspect I’m referring to is some form of online unit. Actually, many online units to be precise because schools will likely be closed for months, i.e. for at least 2-4 units/class-worth-of-time.
6 reasons why some sort of online-units-system will make life a LOT easier for teachers who now have to deliver work remotely’:
- Online units make the task of delivering work and instructions to students much, much easier (work can be added and updated at any time whereas a live stream is, well, live!)
- As a result, the task of delivering a live stream much becomes more efficient because you can reference the information in the online unit rather than demonstrating each aspect live.
- An online unit usually contains videos and a series of well-curated (or created) videos. These, alone, can be as valuable as several live streams.
- Instructions in an online unit (written and/or via video) can be read/watched several times by students, whereas who knows how much information is missed by students in a live stream.
- Mistakes can be more easily rectified in an online unit.
- Online units provide a valid solution to students being absent from a live stream.
Creating online units is difficult, and usually ... s l o w
Many schools have a mandated Learning Management System that teachers are required to use. And some schools do not.
The problem with Learning Management Systems (and other ways of delivering work online) - whether or not they are mandated by schools - is that many of them are not particularly user-friendly.
We all know how to create a unit of work. However, putting that unit online, for many teachers, can be horribly laborious, frustrating and "I want to throw this damn computer out the window"-ish.
The problem with Learning Management Systems (and other ways of delivering work online) - whether or not they are mandated by schools - is that many of them are not particularly user-friendly.
We all know how to create a unit of work. However, putting that unit online, for many teachers, can be horribly laborious, frustrating and "I want to throw this damn computer out the window"-ish.
A super fast way to create an online unit.
If I were a teacher who was not particularly tech-savvy, or a teacher who found the school-mandated online system to be clunky and glitchy and I suddenly found myself needing to figure out how to deliver work remotely, I would use Google Docs.
I’ll say that again - I would use Google Docs.
You can use Google Docs, too.
If a unit is only 2-3 pages long, then you could just use one Google Doc.
However, if a unit requires a lot of detail (text, images, videos, worksheets), then you can divide the unit into sections, have a separate Google Doc for each section and link all the Docs to a common Google Doc menu page.
I’ll say that again - I would use Google Docs.
You can use Google Docs, too.
If a unit is only 2-3 pages long, then you could just use one Google Doc.
However, if a unit requires a lot of detail (text, images, videos, worksheets), then you can divide the unit into sections, have a separate Google Doc for each section and link all the Docs to a common Google Doc menu page.
A self-paced, comprehensive, facilitated online course.
A Video Demonstration
The video below demonstrates how fast such an interlinked Google Doc unit can be created, using a mock-up unit.
Why a Google Doc is waaaay superior to a handout or a pdf online
A Google Doc is vastly superior to a handout or an online pdf because a Google Doc is live. You create it; you share it, the students have it, you add to it, the students get the updates in real-time, or when they next look at it. Very sweet!
Note that to update a pdf that you have shared, you must go back to the original word doc, modify it, re-pdf it, re-distribute it and then tell students NOT to use the previous pdf but to use the UPDATED pdf. Do this four times, and you have four versions of the pdf in the hands of your students.
And that, in my book, is chaos.
Note that to update a pdf that you have shared, you must go back to the original word doc, modify it, re-pdf it, re-distribute it and then tell students NOT to use the previous pdf but to use the UPDATED pdf. Do this four times, and you have four versions of the pdf in the hands of your students.
And that, in my book, is chaos.
Ready to use Google Docs in a more advanced way than demonstrated in the video?
The next article in this series is called 'Delivering Work Remotely With Chat Collaboration - Could This Be The Easiest & Best Option Available?'
It contains a video of an interview I recorded with a teacher who is using Google Docs in a very clever way with his classes. It's a must read/watch.
It contains a video of an interview I recorded with a teacher who is using Google Docs in a very clever way with his classes. It's a must read/watch.
Call to Action
Are you looking to deliver work remotely? What are your immediate challenges? Was this article helpful? We'd love your feedback.
Stay safe folks.
Stay safe folks.
