Prepare your environment and connection
Here is a list with the most relevant criteria in preparing for the online lesson.
Test the Internet connection before you start and make sure you have an alternative in case the Wi-Fi connection fails. If you don’t know yet, learn to make your phone a hotspot for your computer. This way, you will have a back-up internet connection.
Choose a quiet and comfortable location for the lesson. Use headphones and microphone if you cannot escape some background noise.
Integrate the unavoidable disturbances in the lesson, if the case. If you haven’t tried it yet, you will discover that bringing up the discussion about your pet could be a great icebreaker.
What if you are in a crowded or messy place, as it could happen when you are in your apartment? Use the “blur my background” option that most streaming platforms have. Or use an online background - which, by the way, could transform in a nice exercise with the students: help them pick a themed background as well.
Position yourself in a way that you have a light in front of you. Not back to the window, so that your face is in a shadow. Have an artificial light in front of you, or (ideally) a window - positioning in front of the window might actually make you feel a lot better. The proper light makes you look good and also gives you a good feeling. And talking about looking good, some streaming platforms have a “touch up my appearance” option - which can actually make us look better.
It is important that students see your (whole) face. Sometimes when we are absorbed by what we are saying, we end up in a position where students can see only a part of our face. Have you ever been in an online meeting where at some point you can only see the eyes of someone? Position your camera (or your chair) at the proper height, so that, especially when you are talking, students see your mouth as well, so that they can follow what you are saying better.
Find ways to make yourself feel good before the online lesson. Drink a nice, warm drink. Dress up. Breathe. What if you are stressed? Well, we will tackle this separately, because it is an essential topic!
Connect and test the virtual classroom settings, check if your devices work, check how you see yourself. Maybe even prepare to share some music while the students join. A good atmosphere and connection with students in the beginning of the lesson are, maybe, the most important factors that ensure students’ engagement. And even if we have another module for that, we will tackle this in this Module as well, because it is directly related to our self-confidence and optimism for online teaching.