(I’m glaring angrily at you, COVID-19.). So, to get you started, my coworkers and I put our brains together and came up with 53 suggestions of activities that can be run and enjoyed through the magic of technology. Have them propose an original holiday, complete with traditions, mythology, and associated foods. Bon appétit! Subscribe and get original articles (like these) each week. Perhaps you’d like to create a playlist with song titles that cleverly allude to digital technology or dealing with change. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then live video footage should be even more valuable. Just focus on making your students feel like part of a community. (, Resume and cover letter reviews with career counselors, Writing appointments with the writing center, Academic advising, especially for fall course registration, Support groups facilitated by the counseling center, Religious services lead by chaplains and student groups, There are also many more great ideas to be found within the. This can allow for students, caregivers, or fellow teachers to connect with you to ask questions, share how they are feeling, or just say hello. Using a group video chat (eg. Instead, we adapt. “My … You can support students in their journaling habits by suggesting daily prompts or hosting group journaling sessions during which you livestream relaxing music. But for the less e-athletically inclined, consider creating. Consider facilitating a discussion around it, perhaps with a philosophy professor. offered by some of the world’s most famous museums. Several career offices from Penn State’s expansive system of career support came together at the central, college and campus levels to create the virtual series. Just human connection. Here are some guiding principles for communicating and connecting with students virtually: "To meet the needs of all learners, consider multiple options for communication and student participation. Here are some content ideas for your ‘cast: You can also encourage students to listen to any of these podcasts produced by institutions nationwide. Multiple studies show that a healthier way for children to interact with technology (especially screen media) is if an adult is physically or virtually present and participating in usage with the child. Here are some scavenger hunt ideas. Podcasts are great ways to mix up engagement, as listeners can enjoy it while cooking, doing laundry, or really any passive tasks. The positive benefits increase when the technology delivers high-quality educational content. Prompt discussions about the ups and downs of daily life. Or in the afternoon, help students stay awake with a quick digital dance-off to the best boy bands, show tunes, or your institution’s fight song. (Is that the proper metaphor for wheels? Use Twitter to invite students to virtual programming, and encourage them to re-tweet and bring classmates. A student or staff member could film a cute video of themselves watering their houseplants or you could show off some, Help students relax and focus via online meditation sessions. ), Get your students in tune with one another by encouraging them to contribute to a. . to challenge students to a fun round (or two or 50) of trivia. Use a tool like Kahoot or Quizziz to challenge students to a fun round (or two or 50) of trivia. You may have acting majors or theater troupe performers who had been rehearsing for weeks, only to have their shows canceled or indefinitely postponed due to the coronavirus. Keeping routines we used at school has really helped. In typical classroom life, routines are an important way to build connection. Students who are parents can also have their kids join in on the fun! First- and second-grade teacher John Thomas’ masterful, fun hello video to his students is a great example. Your alumni may be sympathizing with the difficult situation your students currently find themselves in and wondering how they can help. But for many folx, that’s simply not possible right now. Enlist some veterans to teach newbies how to play. This can be helpful during times of distance learning, or when parents are unable to make it to the school. Perhaps it’s safer than going to a physical store? Have your team members prepare any meal, and then connect for a virtual call while you eat and chat. With a video platform, charades can be fun, energizing, and challenging. Channel your inner Richard Simmons! Note: No ballet barres, tap shoes, or the slightest bit of dance talent required. Know a student who always manages to take the perfect mobile phone photos? Learn more about this change in our, Yet, given our patented tenacious #SApro spirits, we won’t let little things like campus closures and the complete disruption of our daily lives spoil. . Can you provide a pen-and-paper option for a virtual activity?". Tip #2: Assign an “All About Me” Project Another assignment that helps me learn more about students and teaches them how to … Relatedly, you can help students learn how to, well, learn. Your next crop of first-year students are surely anxious and filled with uncertainty now, too. How You Can Better Support Your Asian Students, According to a Chief Diversity Officer, 18 Ways to Boost Your Mental Health and Productivity as a Remote #SApro, 60 Awesome Icebreakers for Orientation and Beyond, 50 Great Books that Student Affairs Professionals Are Adding to Their 2021 Reading Lists, Encourage & Measure Experiential Learning, Learn & Elevate with Insightful Assessment, The Complete Guide to Co-Curricular Learning, COVID-19 Resources for Student Affairs Pros, Anti-Racism Resources for Student Affairs Pros. But they might have no idea how to do so and would appreciate a lesson or two. In the new world of social distancing, these people are using Zoom, Google Hangouts and other easy-to-use tech to host virtual gatherings. Students’ completed packets could be returned to a teacher by email or collected when schools reopen. Let your students know you’re open to their ideas, too—after all, kids are the real fun experts! . app. Go ahead; make students’ day. If a student is unable to attend, you might invite them to write a message to their classmates in advance that you can share during the meeting. Or you can turn to Explore for live cams of not just puppies and kittens, but loads of wild and exotic creatures, too. Can you call a family to deliver a morning announcement if they don't have access to high-speed internet? Students watching the recording or livestream can follow along, making decorations to hang up in their homes. Craft awesome programs on a dime (or penny). Sure, you’re likely an unofficial expert at in-person facilitation, but online chats and webinars require additional skills and insights. You could discuss strange Wikipedia articles, laugh over memes, or simply encourage students to enjoy unstructured time catching up with each other. These announcements can include student birthday shout-outs, important resource information, or updates on school policies. Clearly I’m not a mechanic.). By setting a time limit of five minutes or less per video, you can encourage folx to savor a quick laugh, a bit of inspiration, or some animal cuteness — without much of a commitment. Alternatively, you can search YouTube for tutorials to watch together. Enlist some veterans to teach newbies how to play. Remember those eccentric holidays I mentioned in idea #9? Obscure ones like National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day (April 2), International Juggler’s Day (April 18), and Lost Sock Memorial Day (May 9) can inspire quirky digital celebrations or simply daily notifications that’ll make students smile. Students can also make their own videos, showing off the creative workouts they’ve come up with. Well, your students likely don’t have pure gold staircases, exotic pets, or eight-car garages, but they still may love showing off the decor in their homes. Provide prompts to students ahead of time, especially if you’ll be discussing academic content. Research suggests that students with a high sense of belonging are also happier, healthier, and more engaged learners. Get board, not bored. Even if you are far from proficient in the art of TikTok-ing, many of your Gen-Z students are likely experts and can take the helm on creating and managing a competition. Don’t let the words of wisdom that were previously brought to your campus from guest speakers disappear into the abyss. Encourage students to take these tours at the same time or at their own convenience, then host a discussion. Host a virtual morning meeting. Just like in the classroom, creating structure and predictability in a virtual environment can... 2. What are ways to maintain strong teacher-student relationships and keep students engaged? Design, build, and map learning outcomes to experiences and gamify involvement with our SmartTranscript. Flip your classroom to stimulate deeper discussion: Forrest Hinton, a high school math teacher, says he found that a blend of asynchronous and synchronous instruction worked well to stimulate student discussion during remote learning. Give students a few days to watch it, then gather them online to discuss their favorite bits and the storyline’s relevance to their lives. Virtual morning (or afternoon) meetings via a web conferencing service, like Zoom or Google Hangouts, are one way to bring students together routinely -- whether that means hosting a check-in circle, connecting with social-emotional learning activities, or participating in group mindfulness practice. If possible, try to focus on decorations that require only limited supplies, as students are unlikely to have a whole art supply store stored away at home. Consider incorporating words related to your institution, classes, or, for a smaller group of students whom you know well, inside jokes. Journaling can be deeply therapeutic. The person who nominated it can explain, via a short video they record or a letter they write, what their selection means to them. Imagine a day in the life of a student in a traditional school setting. True, most students probably won’t happen to have paint supplies at home, but the video can be relaxing in and of itself. 7 Student Relationship Building Ideas and Activities for the Virtual Classroom While Teaching Remotely 1. One option is to ask students to pair up and interview each other. produced by institutions nationwide. To simulate daily or weekly announcements that students hear over the... 3. Better yet, if your campus has a garden or greenhouse, you can help students still enjoy the beauty of it via livestream or a watering demonstration. Examples of these virtual activities include Bingo, scavenger hunts, and Blackout Truth or Dare. 8 Strategies for Building Belonging With Students and Families Virtually, 8 Strategies for Building Connectedness Virtually. Perhaps a band or a capella group would like to perform, with each member doing their part from home. Incorporate cryptic clues, graphics with double-meanings, and embedded games or videos to lead students on a wild internet chase. Just as you’re having to learn how to engage students digitally, your student leaders are having to figure out how to maintain their co-curricular organizations from afar. Your students can still put some good out into the world from their couches. Oh, and since this is college, I have to suggest a program involving pizza. Every day is a holiday. SA pros nationwide are looking for activities that can be run virtually. 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