Teacher Experience

I find that working online offers all the traditional features of a physical classroom, including the shared whiteboards, video tasks and activities. Shared resources are easy to upload, and the children have no issues engaging and using the technology available. Breakout rooms allow the children to work collaboratively, even though they’re in different places throughout the world. It always amazes me how children from all corners of the globe can work together. This in itself offers the children the opportunity to learn about different cultures and perspectives.

We deliver information verbally and usually with the use of a presentation, videos and/or games. Recently, Year 10 children made revision resources in the form of an arcade game – the children added in their own questions using the information we have learned so far, and then we were able to swap these games with their classmates to play. All of the children showed huge enthusiasm and we had real fun doing this.

Being an online teacher far outweighs the experiences I have had teaching in a traditional school. Online learning offers the children the opportunity to have great fun while learning essential skills and information.

Teaching a language online is obviously quite different from classroom teaching, although we can adapt many of the same materials from the classroom for online teaching. Unlike classroom teaching, where you might only include one game in the lesson and the onus would be to write down new vocab and grammar rules into books, I include plenty of games to keep students’ interest.

Peer-to-peer work via the breakout rooms is also motivating as students tend to want to interact with each other, which is understandable. So I use this to my advantage – only allowing them into breakout rooms when I’m happy that they understand the concept and instructions they need to carry out the roleplay or language game.

Generally this method is proving successful and I’m finding that as the teacher-student relationship grows, that online teaching is more rewarding in some ways than classroom teaching. I can deal with disruptions quickly, while support from the management team is swift and friendly. I feel supported and trusted to manage students learning in this new way and I’m enjoying seeing my students grow in confidence and ability.

Like many of the pupils I teach, my own personal issues made working in a normal school environment too difficult. I joined My Online Schooling because it meant I could carry on doing the job I love without having to face the many challenges that prevented me from doing so previously.

Teaching here gives me other challenges, but they’re the enjoyable kind! I’ve had to adapt the way I teach, which was difficult to begin with, but I enjoyed exploring new methods and activities and I feel I have become a better teacher through doing this. I really enjoy the small class sizes – it allows a much closer relationship with my students and helps me better adapt my teaching to their individual needs.

Other highlights include the flexibility of learning, and the community feel the school has. I’m very proud to work for My Online Schooling, as I know how much the service means to parents and pupils. I’m grateful to be able to work in a place that fits my needs and provides plenty of support.