During the pandemic, the world was suddenly forced into an unexpected crash course in online communication. Friends, families, office staff, and students all found themselves scrambling to figure out how to stay in touch with one another without physically being in the same place.
While Zoom and other programs like it seemed to be a lifesaver in certain ways, these online tools didn’t necessarily meet the needs of everyone using them. People were able to video chat, yes, but quite a few important elements were still lacking. For students, for example, learning was often still a nightmare. The ability to interact with teachers and fellow students was severely limited, and many important parts of classroom lectures simply got lost in the air.
The worst of the pandemic might have passed, but the need for online communication will remain. As much as people would like to get together for their various life activities, online communication is simply too convenient (and sometimes necessary) to dismiss altogether. What is the answer, then? Well, the ability to record things like meetings and classes is critical. Especially for students. With the right recording software, students can review their lessons, take note of important parts they might have missed, and go over things with their parents. They can also take part in brainstorming activities with their peers.
Let’s take a look at some of the desirable components of recording software, tips on how to record computer screens, and what parents and educators should be looking for in a program.
Advantages of recording software
Beyond simply the ability to review lessons, there are quite a few other advantages to using free screen recording software for both teachers and students. For example, teachers can create fun, interactive quizzes for their students that the students can complete after class and have the freedom to think about carefully on their own time. If students are pressured to complete tasks within the period of a particular lesson, they will feel too pressured to think broadly about the subject and will simply spit out answers for the sake of completion.
There are advantages for teachers, as well. By having information about student learning time readily available, teachers can evaluate how much time students actually spent engaging with classroom material and evaluate which lessons were most effective.
Online recordings can also be useful for many other practical reasons. Time zones, for example, no longer inhibit teachers’ schedules because people living in remote places can simply watch recordings later. It is a win-win for all.
How effective are online classes?
Aside from the question of how to record classes and the convenience they offer, there is still a question of their effectiveness. During the pandemic, many students complained that staring at their screens all day long and watching their teacher talk was exceedingly boring. Statistics will certainly indicate that student performance declined severely in many places during this period. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Let’s not forget that electronic devices are sacred items to young people. We’ve all heard the piercing scream that comes out of a teenage boy’s mouth when you try to take his game console away. What teachers need to do is think about how to make their online lectures interesting and engaging so that students will really absorb the material. Remember: the world is not the same as it was 50 years ago. The whole old-school idea that work and play need to be fully separated has proven to be ineffective time and again. Learning can indeed be fun, interesting, and enjoyable for all ages. Whether it be elementary math or an introduction to finance for high school students, there are resources out there for every level.
Tips for teachers
There are several critical things that teachers and instructors at all levels should keep in mind when preparing online classes. Adherence to these ideas will be a major determining factor in how much material is absorbed by any given group of students.
Use visuals
One thing that teachers should do is use clear and interesting visuals. We are lucky to be living in an age where technology allows for so many flashy graphics and effects to be added to videos. Teachers should use this to their advantage. Particularly if it is a subject that might make students sleepy, teachers should find a way to bring it to life and make an impression that their students won’t forget. And this goes for everything from pre-k to university courses.
Incorporate outside media
Another thing that teachers can do to spiff up their lessons and encourage student learning is to incorporate other media sources into their classes. If you’re a history teacher, give your students links to fun videos that illustrate historical battles (but give them good ones, not some droning monotone PBS narrator). If you’re teaching chemistry, try to find some fun videos that show chemistry experiments up close to demonstrate how chemical processes work. What kid doesn’t like to watch liquids explode?
Pre-record and review lessons
We don’t usually get the chance to hear ourselves speak, but when we do we are often amazed at what we sound like. Not only the sound of our voices but the way in which we speak. Most people use a surprisingly large number of “fillers” when they talk. Therefore, it would be to every teacher’s advantage to experiment with pre-recording a class and review it before the actual class time. If the language used isn’t clear and concise, it should be revised. Students will notice the difference, for sure.
Add online text
Students might not need to see every word that a teacher says on the screen, but what about new vocabulary? If you’re teaching a biology class and introducing a set of six-syllable words for your class to remember, simply scratching it onto the chalkboard behind you probably won’t be very effective. Take advantage of the option to incorporate text directly onto your screen. That way, with the right recording device, students can go back and review the lecture as many times as necessary, having the new vocabulary right there before them.
Put it all together with the right tools
Online learning can be a great thing for teachers and students alike. It can also be a total nightmare if it isn’t done right. With the right material, students can benefit from online learning in ways that even the regular classroom wouldn’t allow. This means several things: the ability to preserve lessons and be able to review them, the availability of fun, interactive material, and the ability to communicate with teachers and fellow students as necessary. All this material is out there if you simply start searching for it.
With the right tools in place, students will grow like never before! Teachers might even have to upgrade their material in subsequent years as students will have learned more than expected.
