A virtual classroom is not that different from a traditional one. They have similar goals when it comes to learning. The difference lies in how the learning happens. A classroom in the virtual realm means it is done over the Internet. You are not physically present with your students or learners. But that physical presence should never hinder you from ensuring that the learning process of the students are complete.
So how can you achieve this? Implementing the 70/20/10 model in your content creation should help. But what exactly does this model mean? It all refers to how you will approach the creation of your content in your eLearning program.
70% is experiential
First of all, you need to make sure that your eLearning content is based on experience. You should know by now that experience is the best teacher. It is how your students and learners will remember the lesson. So you have to create activities that will allow learners to relate the lesson to daily tasks. It can be in the form of challenges that will allow them to practice the theories in their everyday lives. When they can relate to it in an experiential way, it makes the learning more effective. Of course, being in a virtual classroom, this is more difficult to do. This is when your choice of a learning management system will come in handy. Make sure that your choice will allow you to implement practical activities and at the same time, monitor how the progress of each learner goes.
20% is social
When you are creating the content in your eLearning program, you need to make it social. In a virtual classroom, this may seem more of a challenge because you are not really physically will each other. But thanks to the many eLearning tools available online, you can communicate with each other in real time. For instance, you can Skype or social networking sites to utilize. In a previous article, we discussed how you can use Twitter as an eLearning tool. You can set up group activities as part of the eLearning process so your students can experience the learning curve together. Just make sure that you do not force the interaction – you have to set up the activity that will make the socializing more natural. Allow them to learn from each other.
10% is formal
Although this model seems to promote fun and activities and less of the theoretical boring teaching, you should not overdo it. That is why 10% of your eLearning program should be formal. There still has to be a structure in your activities. You want to use activities to make the lesson stick but make sure there is a purpose for every one of them. It is best to start with the formal learning before you branch out to the activities. That is usually the best way to start your lessons.
Following the 70/20/10 model for your virtual classroom will allow your eLearning program to have a structure that can effectively teach students what they need to learn.
Image courtesy of cooldesign for FreeDigitalPhotos.net