Many institutions approached online and digital learning with a slow burn that the pandemic pushed into overdrive. Practically overnight, institutions had to re-calibrate and move instruction online, with 75% of undergraduate students enrolled in at least one distance education course — a 97% year-over-year increase (11.8 million vs. 6.0 million students).
But students weren’t the only ones who had to adjust; the leap to digital learning also represents a change for instructional staff and professors who were accustomed to a traditional classroom. In fact, a 2022 Cengage survey of 641 US institutions found that 97% of institutions reported using faculty with no prior online teaching experience for some of their courses. This is a significant issue that, if left unaddressed, can negatively impact student experience and success.
Fortunately, online teaching is a competency that instructors, faculty, and staff can develop over time with the right support. Here are creative and practical suggestions and ideas to help non-digitally native faculty and staff thrive in a digital space.
Beginner steps to smooth the transition from in-person to virtual instruction
- Provide educational materials about remote students. The best way to support remote students will differ from how you would best support students in a traditional classroom. Provide resources to instructional staff that covers what might change and what remote students need most while learning virtually.
- Analyze accessibility and inclusivity of existing resources. The resources an institution provides lose value if instructors and students can’t access them. Early on, review the accessibility and inclusivity of digital resources and educational materials and ensure they meet or exceed institutional requirements.
Simplify paths to support. Create an online knowledge hub that brings all available resources for instructors into one place. Make it clear who instructors can reach out to with questions or concerns, such as specific contacts for technical support or instructional design support for digital learning.
Intermediate steps that set the bar high and provide support
- Educate students on how to make the most of their online learning experience. Create learning materials for students that explain the basics of succeeding in online classes. Videos might highlight good digital study habits, email and video learning etiquette, and other tips for success.
- Increase access to digital resources. How instructors teach isn’t the only aspect that will change in a virtual learning environment, as they’ll also need to point students to digital resources. Review library and educational technology resources available to provide greater access to online materials for instructors to share with students.
- Equip faculty with technology and tools to improve student engagement and learning. Educational technology tools that remove barriers to learning in a digital classroom can give instructors an edge. Consider providing a tool like Grammarly, which coaches students on their written communication skills around the clock so that interactions with their instructors can be more engaging and effective.
Advanced steps that ensure a brighter future for student learning
- Provide or reimburse for additional educational technology and instructional design training. Encourage instructional staff and professors to pursue further education in remote and digital learning to build their expertise in this new way of educating. Training materials, online courses, webinars, and even certifications or degree programs will empower faculty to have a greater impact on the online classroom.
- Build circles of peer support. Aid from instructional advisors is critical, as is support from peers like other instructional staff, faculty, and professors. Invite instructors to connect and share their experiences with online learning by hosting events or assigning peer groups for regular check-ins throughout the online teaching journey.
- Collect evidence-based learnings from your institution. Evidence-based learning helps instructors learn what works from what other instructors have done in real learning situations. While these learnings are available from various research bodies, institutions can also begin to collect their own and document the experiences of instructors who engage in online teaching over time.
Prepare faculty to meet the demands of online learning
Across the full landscape of higher education, online learning has transitioned from a nice-to-have to a mainstay. It’s no longer the pandemic that’s enticing students into an online educational path, but rather the powerful benefits of digital learning that the pandemic uncovered for so many people.
However, this can be a challenging adjustment for instructors new to online teaching. And students — and institutions — can only rise to the level of their educators.
Help instructors adjust to the digital learning space and become proficient in the technological and educational tools that make for effective online learning today. It’s a critical step in ensuring faculty and staff can meet students’ needs and positively impact student learning in the long run.
Prepare your instructors and staff for a world that has embraced digital transformation. Contact our team to learn more about Grammarly for Education.
