Let's Taco 'Bout It: Tips & Tools for Communication

Let's Taco 'Bout It: Tips & Tools for Communication

Let's talk-not about tacos (although a conversation about tacos wouldn't be so terrible), but about communication during emergency extended eLearning. As teachers, being around students all day, talking with them, and watching them grow are some of the things we cherish the most. The little greetings in the hallway, the handshakes, the conversations as they leave school for the day-we enjoy talking with our students and learning about their lives. 

Now that we find ourselves into an environment where we no longer have the same setting to connect with our students maintaining these relationships may seem a little challenging. While an eLearning environment is very different than what we are used to, there are many ways to connect with students and continue to cultivate healthy relationships. While it may look a little different than before, communication during eLearning is not impossible- and is not something we should overlook.

What

If you've been here for a little while, the concept of synchronous or asynchronous are probably not strangers to you. You may be tired of seeing those two words across your screen. However, providing asynchronous options in addition to synchronous options are essentials for promoting equity, inclusion, and accessibility in our virtual learning environments. These options are also vital when it comes to communication modalities as well. So, what exactly do asynchronous and synchronous mean?

• Asynchronous: Students can access the material (in this case, conversation) at any point in time, whenever it is most convenient for them. Think-asynchronous, accessible at any time.

• Synchronous: Students and teachers interact with one another in "real-time." Delivery and consumption of content take place simultaneously. Students cannot access the conversation at any point in time. Think of synchronous as a "live" event.

Because student internet access and schedules vary, providing asynchronous options is essential. While synchronous options can be helpful at times, synchronous options should not be the only method for students to communicate with staff or earn participation points for a lesson due to student, schedule, and internet variability.

Why

School is a social environment. You may have already noticed what students miss most are the human connections from your classes. As students find themselves at home, isolated from their typical social settings, there has never been a more critical time to make sure students (and staff) have opportunities to interact with one another. According to research from the Search Institute, strong developmental relationships are one of the most influential factors in a child's education and success in school. As we know, relationships are built through trust, communication, and showing we care. Continuing to build upon our relationship foundation and providing students with opportunities during these troubling times can be the difference between a student engaging and feeling valued, or a student feeling hopeless and alone. 

As we navigate through our current crisis, communication between teachers and other staff members is essential for providing support to one another, staying positive, and for sharing ideas as we all learn through this pandemic. Explore methods of communication and attempt to make personalized connections with students. Students will notice your investment.

How

The question, however, is how to continue to have meaningful connections with students despite social distancing and lack of face-to-face lessons. With many communication tools available to teachers-and more offering free premium access daily-which tools are the best for supporting students during these troubling times?

Like any good build your own taco bar, options are key. A beef only taco bar leaves out those who are vegetarians or those who prefer pork. Likewise, as we build communication outlets for our students, it is key to provide multiple options and pathways so learners can have a preference in which format works best for them. While there is not one ideal tool to reach all students-building in asynchronous and synchronous options for communications is critical for supporting learner variability as well as internet variability. Through providing students choice in social interaction or communication tools, students can experiment with different tools, identify which means they like best, and have access to tools they can utilize despite any barriers that may exist in connectivity.

Consider the following as options for your "let's taco 'bout it" communication menu with students.

Ready to jump ahead to a video tutorial? If not-check out the tools detailed below.

Communication Tools:

itslearning Messenger (asynchronous)

• Communicate with students directly in an individual message or via a course group chat. Staff can share links, videos, and files via itslearning messages. Here's how to get started.

• Advantages: Easily accessible in the platform, anytime anywhere access.

• Drawbacks: While convenient, may not be the most dynamic communication tool.

Discussion Board (asynchronous)

• Like many online learning systems, itslearning has an online discussion board (or forum) feature. With a discussion board, teachers can set up ongoing conversations on a variety of topics or questions. However, unlike other discussion board tools, itslearning's discussion tool supports the addition of interactive, dynamic content via the rich-text editor, such as links, photos, video, audio recordings, and embedded content. Here are tips for creating itslearning discussions.
  
• Advantages: Flexible conversation tool plus another added benefit is that students can interact with one another within a discussion. The ability to add links, videos, images, audio, and embedded content create a more universally designed communication experience for all students. Teachers can comment back and guide conversation.

• Drawbacks: Establishing and modeling expectations for discussion posts and comments is essential for ensuring meaningful, enriching, ongoing conversation continues rather than simple "ditto" or "I agree" responses. For additional tips, check out this guide with 10 Tips for Effective Online Discussions.

Backchannel Chats - YoTeach (asynchronous and/or synchronous)

• For more of a "live" conversation option, a backchannel chat provides students with the option to ask questions real-time or join a discussion room or chat at a later time at their convenience. YoTeach, a replacement for the popular backchannel chat tool Today's Meet, is a backchannel chat tool that provides options for communcation including text, image, drawing, and audio. For additional tools and tips for creating backchannel chat, check out Edutopia. For a guide on utilizing YoTech, check out the resource here.
  
• Advantages: Backchannel are a safe space for students to ask for help throughout a lesson. Students can interact with one another during a backchannel chat, plus have options in how they would like to respond. YoTeach also provides a flexible option for teachers-the chat can happen at a set time (synchronous) or remain open for an extended time (asynchronous).

• Drawbacks: Establishing and modeling clear expectations for a chat tool is helpful for driving meaningful conversations. If introducing a chat tool for the first time, create a short screencast tutorial so students understand how to use the chat tool effectively.

Video Conferencing

Video conferencing tools provide an opporunity to "see" and connect with our students in a way most similar to seeing their faces in the classroom. Seeing your familiar face may boost a student's self-esteem and bring more familiarity amidst the uncharted territory we currently find ourselves within. When using video conferencing tools, be sure to provide asynchronous opportunities and be mindful of student data, age restriction, and privacy laws.

As with any technology tool-before using, it is helpful to experiment with the tool yourself and outline clear expectations for students. Video calls can be great ways to connect with students-but a lot can go wrong on a call-noises, conversations, background imagery. Before using, be sure to clarify, model, and review expectations as well as let students know participation is optional. 

Want to borrow an existing expectations guide? Check out this resource and copy to suit your needs. 

Expert tip: tweak the language to align with your building's PBIS rhetoric.

itslearning Conference

• Itslearning has a video, audio, and text based conference tool within the platform via the "conference tool". It is a great option for chatting with students in small groups without having to master a new, outside technology tool. Want to create your own itslearning conference? Get started with this guide.
  
• Advantages: Already located within the itslearning platform, the conference tool is easy to link to other lesson resources. Plus, it provides a flexible communication option in that the teacher can include audio, links, text, video and students have options in the format they would like to respond (audio, video, and/or text).

• Drawbacks: Only a limited number of participants (10) can join an itslearning conference. This tool is best suited for small groups, not whole class conferencing.

Google Meet

• Google Meet, or Google Hangouts Meet, is G-Suite's video conferencing tool available to G-Suite Education districts. As a G-Suite for Education district, BCSC staff have access to full, premium versions of this tool meaning up to 250 participants can join a Google Meet conference call. In a Google Meet, teachers can share their screen to present and illustrate concepts, communicate via live chat, and share audio and video. Students also have options in how to participate. Plus, teachers can record the Hangout for any student who was unable to attend. Note: Be sure to get student permission before recording a Hangout. Ready to get started with Google Hangouts? Check out this helpful teacher guide first.
  
• Advantages: Provides classes a "connected" learning experience where students and teachers can interact with each other in real-time. Supports options for action and expression by allowing participants to join via phone or computer, and utilize text, audio, or video.

• Drawbacks: Video conferencing tools such as Meet require a lot of bandwidth. Students who have slow or limited internet access may not be able to participate. Be sure to provide alternative options. In addition, because joining a Meet is a multistep process, be sure to show students steps on how to join plus model expectations.
• Video Conference Etiquette example

Ready to get started? Check out the helpful guides below.

Video Tutorial:

Written Guide:

How are you staying in touch with students during emergency extended eLearning?

Share your ideas for staying connected with students via our form or the "Contact" tab.

We would love to see your ideas!

Taco image courtesy of Creative Headline
CAST, "UDL: Universal Design for Learning Guidelines", The UDL Guidelines (website), accessed April 11, 2020.
http://udlguidelines.cast.org/

The Search Institute, "Our Research: The Developmental Relationships Framework", The Search Institute (website), accessed April 11, 2020.
https://www.search-institute.org/developmental-relationships/developmental-relationships-framework/