Sarah Abent

Proud Michigan educator.

[Sarah Abent @SarahAbent]

@Sande3L Our district has a Tech Q&A/Troubleshooting page, which has been super helpful when students have issues that are beyond my control. I copy & paste that link to students & parents 10 times a week, it seems. #643Sp21

[Sarah Abent @SarahAbent]

"One difference is the increased need for online educators to monitor, facilitate, and troubleshoot student technology-use" Even though we're a semester in, I'm still troubleshooting tech issues for my students on a daily basis. It's exhausting. #SPOResearch1 #643Sp21

[Sarah Abent @SarahAbent]

@MsBirdsWords I'm definitely going to put together "discussion norms" every year from now on. I vaguely do it when we're in-person, but I think it's so important (and valuable) to have them be visible & available at all times. #643Sp21

[Sarah Abent @SarahAbent]

"But whether teaching online or face-to-face, all instructors cultivate a particular “teaching presence;” they serve as the “facilitator and co-creator of a social environment conducive to active and successful learning” #643Sp21 #NotADog

[Sarah Abent @SarahAbent]

@caitidani1 @loom Love Loom! If only we could have 30 hours in a day instead of 24, then maybe I'd be able to do a Loom for every single lesson without feeling like I'm woefully behind on everything else! #643Sp21

[Sarah Abent @SarahAbent]

@AmieByelich Agreed. I try to give as much choice as possible to my students, but within reason. I find that giving them a list to choose from is less intimidating to them than letting them choose 100% of their task. #643Sp21

[Sarah Abent @SarahAbent]

"Online learning lends itself to the use of pre-assessments and student choice..." How often do you allow students to show you what they know in a way they choose to? What are some avenues your students have chosen this year? #643Sp21 #GetPresent

[Sarah Abent @SarahAbent]

@KaciKepferland In one of my hours, nobody talks to me about their lives, so I always start class with an anecdote about myself to spur the conversation. It seems to help with building community (even if it is minimal). #643Sp21

[Sarah Abent @SarahAbent]

@HerrildKelsey @MsKaileySevel Agreed, Kelsey. I rely on my own social cues, but I also depend on social cues from my students in the classroom setting. When students have their cameras off every day, it's hard to get a feel for how they're doing mentally. #643Sp21

[Sarah Abent @SarahAbent]

This is something I have really excelled at online and *have* to implement when F2F resumes. Being online has helped me communicate effectively with my students about where they should be in the curriculum and when they should get there. #643Sp21

[Sarah Abent @SarahAbent]

"Another practice participants used to promote teacher presence was to plan a full course of instruction for students and frequently and regularly inform their students about the plan of instruction" #SPOResearch1 #643Sp21

[Sarah Abent @SarahAbent]

I have struggled to build community and group cohesion with one hour in particular. They just won't talk. They do the bare minimum when we do PearDecks and won't even give me their opinions on breakfast foods. #643Sp21

[Sarah Abent @SarahAbent]

"...there are three aspects to social presence: affective expression, open communication, and group cohesion" So what do we do when our groups decide that cohesion just isn't for them? #SPOReasearch1 #643Sp21

[Sarah Abent @SarahAbent]

Reading through #SPOL makes realize just how much students have to buy-in to the social presence their teachers are trying to create in order for it to be truly effective and profound. #643Sp21

[Sarah Abent @SarahAbent]

"Social presence can be integrated into the actual course design through...group assignments and projects." This stuck out to me in particular because my students always hate breakout groups and anything involving group work (online or in-person). #SPOL #643Sp21

[Sarah Abent @SarahAbent]

"Key findings include focusing on the instructor's role, personalization, and feedback; creating community" It's no surprise to me that students need pretty much the same things online as they do in person. #SPOL #643Sp21

[Sarah Abent @SarahAbent]

Although my district is still 100% online, I know that my face-to-face practice will be changed for the better because of my experience of online learning. How will your face-to-face practice change? #643Sp21 #GetPresent

[Sarah Abent @SarahAbent]

"In fact, more than 95% of NCVPS teachers surveyed agreed
that teaching in an online learning environment has affected their face-to-face practice, and in the vast majority of cases, for the better" #643Sp21 #GetPresent

[Sarah Abent @SarahAbent]

Has anyone else felt like you have had to be 10x more organized and planned out as an online teacher than you were previously? I have more folders & subfolders in my Google Drive than ever before (not that I'm complaining) #643Sp21 #NotADog

[Sarah Abent @SarahAbent]

"Designing a course with an intuitive, organized structure can help promote this sort of learning environment, but this takes intentionality on the part of the instructor. Careful, deliberate planning is key for successful interactions in the online environment" #643Sp21 #NotADog

[Sarah Abent @SarahAbent]

@Mrs_S_Klee Two ways: 1. Get them to answer questions at the beginning of class that have no connection to what we're learning as a "warm up" while kids enter class. 2. PearDeck. It changes the way I approach discussion in my classroom. I hear from EVERYONE. #643Sp21