Remote learning can be challenging. Teaching and engaging young children without face-to-face interaction is a challenge for many teachers. Having a high-speed internet connection and a working device are not the only things that ensure successful remote learning. Teachers must also fully engage their students to ensure that content is delivered and understanding of the lessons is facilitated.
However, many barriers hinder student engagement. Students that have difficulty focusing may find themselves easily distracted even in live video classes. The situation at home for each student is also different. While some have the benefit and comfort of a quiet study area, some are forced to share a space and even devices with their siblings.
While distance learning may be efficient for professionals who wish to improve their resumes, it can present some challenges for K-12 learners. Some K-12 subject areas need more interaction between teacher and student, and even between students themselves. Imagine teaching the basics of team sports online. While you can teach the basics of the sport, there is no replacing the experience of actually playing it with your classmates.
One of the things missing from distance learning is the opportunity for collateral learning. Collateral learning is the learning or takeaway that a student accidentally learns inside and outside the classroom, aside from the lecture’s learning intent.
The learner can learn these things through his or her experience with his classmates and peers. It can be learned from casual discussions and the learner’s experience with the lesson presented. It is actually learning that the student does not even realize is taking place.
Use Animations To Make Your Presentation More Interesting
Remember how you used visual presentations to engage your students and how you want to make a point? Some students learn well from reading books. However, some learn best with visuals. Some auditory learners learn well when listening to a recorded lecture.
Using animations and motion graphics can help sustain the attention and interest of your K-12 learners. In the absence of classroom collateral learning, your students can make their own inferences on the animation presented.
Animations remove language barriers and facilitate the imagination of your learners. Remember to use vibrant colors and funny caricatures. A fun animated presentation can tell more about the story you want to share than a bland presentation slide.
Use Animations To Make Complicated Concepts Easier
Teaching science can be difficult, especially if you want to illustrate a point or a theory. Lab work is out of the picture at the moment. Teachers are using different methods to encourage experimental learning, even in a remote learning set-up.
Animations and motion graphics that illustrate scientific theories and principles in a fun and easy-to-understand manner can help your students be more interested in the sciences. This is especially helpful for younger learners and those who are having difficulty understanding complicated scientific principles.
Instead of recording yourself performing home laboratory experiments, animations can make it more fun and engaging for your students. Schools can even make them permanent instruction materials for laboratory activities even after the pandemic and classroom instructions have resumed.
Use Animations To Make Mathematics Less Scary
To say that young students are scared of Math is an understatement. Math can make even college students feel unintelligent. Math frustrates even professionals when asked by the children to do their homework.
Math intimidates young learners, making learning difficult. Math anxiety exists, and it can affect children as young as six years old. It results in despair, and it can become a cycle that they cannot escape from. According to a study by researchers from Cambridge University, the children they interviewed had a very graphic way of describing how they felt about the subject. Many children become too afraid to go to school when they have math classes.
Teachers can make math less scary with animations and graphics to illustrate mathematical concepts. By using fun and entertaining graphics, teachers can make math less intimidating to young learners. Math can become simpler and less complex than it is, and it can help eliminate the students’ fears.
Make Learning More Accessible To All
Animated videos can be downloaded and replayed by the students when they need to. They can re-watch and rewind the videos as needed. It also makes the interaction between the students possible. They can exchange their reactions and opinions on the videos they watched, allowing for a deeper understanding.
Technology has allowed for many incredible things for learning and education. While challenges cannot be avoided, educators should constantly look for ways to make learning more fun, engaging, and accessible for all types of learners.
