These virtual learning expectations are so easy to learn! They will help students concentrate on learning and participate to the best of their abilities. Share and discuss each expectation at the start of remote learning to set remote learning up for success!

Ensure students know to get everything set up, so they’re ready to go when class starts. Sometimes logging on takes longer than expected, and it can be distracting to have different students popping up on the screen as you introduce your lesson.

Wearing proper clothes for school (even if it IS online) helps switch their brains into ‘work’ mode, and students will look and feel ready to learn.

We’ve all been there, the dreaded low battery notification when you’re right in the middle of something! Making sure devices are charged and ready to go will ensure they don’t miss out on anything by having to rush to get their charger (or when their computer goes flat in the middle of the lesson!).

It can be difficult for students to maintain their attention when learning is reduced to a tiny screen, and students tend to get distracted by everything! Encourage them to have a distraction-free workplace, with only their school supplies on it. This will help them to stay on task. Not only this, but you can concentrate on teaching and not worry about what students may be distracted by that is out of camera view.

Students wouldn’t be allowed to snack during lessons at school, and virtual learning is no different! Not only will keeping snacks to break time help students to maintain a school-like schedule, but it will also keep their digital equipment crumb and smear-free. Of course, having water to sip on is perfectly fine — just keep it a safe distance away from their device!

The learning that students are doing is just as important as in the real classroom. So, make sure they are paying attention so they don’t miss out on anything. They may forget that they’re on camera as they will just be watching you!

Students may not realize how loud their microphones are. Even if they are paying attention, they may have someone, or something, creating noise in the room behind them that distracts other students from the speaker. For this reason, it’s important to mute their microphone when it’s not their turn to talk. Wearing headphones can help them filter out these background noises as well.

Just like in the classroom, the chat function should not be in use unless specifically called for. Students may not realize that when they write in the chat, everyone can see it. So remind them not to distract their classmates and keep the chat function to a minimum unless you’ve specifically asked them to chat with each other.

Participation is a little harder when kids are being viewed on a screen. Why not introduce a little signal for kids to let you know when they have something to contribute to the class discussion? This way, students will feel just as eager to participate and try their best as they do in the real classroom!

We understand technology does not always make things easier. So, above all, it’s important to teach students one simple thing – teachers and parents are trying their best, and students need to respect them even if things don’t go as planned. We are a team, and we can do this together! At the end of the day, practicing patience and kindness is the most important virtual learning expectation of all.