How to Be a More Effective Online Math Teacher

As the world continues to adapt to a new “normal” many high school and college math teachers are turning to online platforms to supplement their teaching. Adapting these tools can be daunting and overwhelming, to say the least. 

Here’s some ideas on how you can better your online or hybrid learning environment and maximize your usage of online tools like YouTube, Derivita, and SpotCheck.

Accept that teaching online is different

The first step is to acknowledge and accept that this digitized world is new to you and it takes some getting used to. It can be a challenge to recognize what part of your course requires adaptation and what experiences students are losing or gaining. Not to mention you have to learn how to use a whole new suite of tools and teaching strategies. But these changes, although challenging, offer a lot of opportunity for growth and development. 

For example, in the traditional classroom setting, resources can be limited. Online, there are endless opportunities and tools for you to utilize. Video platforms, presentation and assessment builders, participation programs, interactive forms, automated feedback features, remote proctoring software, and social media platforms can all aid you in establishing a convenient, creative, and engaging online math course. 

You have the tools you need. Taking the time to find what works with you will improve your overall teaching experience.

Choose a video platform

When looking for a video platform to compliment your online math classroom, keep an eye out for three things:

1. User-friendliness
2. The platform’s features and capabilities
3. The price tag

Make sure that your video platform can display accurate mathematical symbols, processes, and formulas. 

Integration is important too! Make sure that your preferred platform is compatible with your existing Learning Management System (LMS), online assessment platform, or plugin. 

YouTube is a typical go-to and the links can easily be imbedded into question banks or customized question editors. 

Make Derivita your best friend

Derivita offers you a suite of customizable tools to create the math assignment that fits both your students’ and your needs. The Derivita toolbox includes question randomizations, auto-grading features, a “Show Work” feature that allows students to attach their written work to online math assessments, and the ability to receive and give feedback. 

With Derivita, you will have access to an existing Content Library that is consistently updated to include the latest curriculum for K-12 and Higher-Ed math courses. This means that no matter which textbook or which chapter you’re teaching this year or week, you are likely to find a question bank that fits your needs. 

The Derivita user experience is meant to be self-explaining, mobile-friendly, and convenient. By seamlessly integrating with your existing LMS and utilizing Single Sign-On, you and your students can access your online math assignments in a couple of taps.

Maximize student engagement and participation

Engaging and encouraging participation in an online learning environment can be difficult with videos turned off and students dozing off at the computer. 

However, open discussions, a non-graded challenge, a riddle, or a dad-joke can start the class off on the right foot. You can use tools like SpotCheck to push students to use their phones or tablets to actively participate throughout your in-person or online course. 

You can also form smaller "study groups" that allow peers to get to know and help each other via an online, monitored chat platform or video conferencing room. This allows students to engage with their classmates, assist struggling students, and build a community within the classroom. 

At the end of the day, transitioning to online math instruction is not a journey you have to travel alone. There are forums, blogs, FaceBook groups, Twitter accounts, Pinterest boards, and communities built to develop ideas for math instructors just like you. Together, we’ll take this journey one step at a time. 

Check back here for online math course guides, tools, and best practices to develop your online math teaching methodologies.