Online classes have become very popular in recent years. They typically involve giving lessons via video call to a group of people (which could include kids or adults).
Hosting classes online allows you to reach a greater audience than traditional physical classes because no-one has to travel anywhere to attend your class. In fact, people can attend your class from all over the world.
Of course, conducting a class via a video call does provide challenges such as not being able to physically interact with people in your class and having to potentially deal with tech problems. This post explains more on how to overcome these challenges in order to host a successful online class.
Get the lighting and camera angle right
Everyone attending your classes should be able to see you clearly. This involves making sure that the lighting is not too dim or bright, and that everything is framed correctly (if you’re instructing people to do exercises or teaching people how to do sign language, make sure that you’ve got the perfect angle to see everything). Remember to also keep things professional. This includes making sure that there’s no mess in the background and that you’re looking at the camera (make sure the audience isn’t looking down at you or up your nostrils!).
Invest in some good quality audio equipment
It’s important that people attending your online class can clearly hear what you’re saying. Consider investing in a decent microphone that will make your voice clear while reducing background noise. This could be a stationary microphone in front of you, or a headset microphone if you need to move around.
Reduce unwanted interruptions
You don’t want kids or pets interrupting your class half-way through. Try to reduce these interruptions by choosing a private space to work from. You may want to avoid anywhere too public where there could be lots of distracting noises of things going on in the background. You should also make sure that the internet connection is strong and secure, and that any device you’re using to record the class is fully-charged or plugged-in.
Stay secure against online dangers
Online classes can be hacked by cyber-criminals or other unwanted attendees if you’re not careful. It’s worth looking into tools to help prevent hacking and cyber bullying in online classrooms (the latter is important when dealing with classes of kids). Make sure that classes aren’t so large that you’re unable to monitor what everyone is doing.
Familiarise yourself with all the video call features
It’s useful to spend some time getting to know the tech you’re using before you host a class. The likes of Zoom have many fun features that can help to provide a level of interaction such as whiteboard tools, polls and breakout rooms. Being able to fully utilise these tools could help you to get more out of each class. Take the time to learn about these features and practice using them so that you can instruct your class members how to use them if necessary.
(Cover Image Source: Pexels)