The following guide provides simple and quick tools to make your Zoom lessons successful and effective.
The following guide provides simple and quick tools to make your Zoom lessons successful and effective.
Share materials in advance – Send students the learning materials before the meeting (presentations, worksheets, articles, or links), the expected structure of the lesson, and any special participation guidelines (for example, turning on cameras during discussions or when asking questions).
Send a teaser before the lesson – To spark interest and prepare students for learning, you can send a short and relevant video, a reminder about the upcoming class with a conceptual question, or a short survey to assess assumptions or prior knowledge.
Prepare your teaching aids – Create a simple, clean, clear, and visual presentation, or use an alternative to a board such as a tablet or graphic board. For adding images to your presentation, it’s recommended to use a free image bank such as Freepik (remember to give credit as required). You can also generate images using AI tools such as Gemini, ChatGPT, and others.
Ensure a quiet and well-lit environment – Use natural or front artificial lighting (avoid backlighting, which will turn you into a silhouette), and choose a space free from distractions and noise as much as possible.
Prepare a backup plan in case of technical issues – Have an alternative plan ready for technical problems or prolonged emergencies (for example, written materials you can email or pre-recorded parts of the lesson).
Join early – Enter the meeting 10–15 minutes before the start time to get organized, check that everything works technically, and greet students calmly.
Start on a personal and human note – Share briefly how you’re doing, ask how students are, offer a listening ear, and create a pleasant and safe atmosphere.
Set ground rules in advance – Explain what’s expected regarding cameras, microphones, participation in chat or polls, and mention if the class is being recorded. If open cameras are important to you, say so and explain why.
Address students by name – At the beginning of the class, ask students to update their Zoom display names (not “iPhone 36”). Address them by their names.
Use two screens (if possible) – This will allow you to manage the class efficiently and greatly improve your Zoom teaching experience. Show your presentation on one screen, and on the other see your students’ faces, the chat, and the participants window.
Include methodological pauses – Break the flow every 15–20 minutes for a short summary, a question, a comprehension check, a short video, or a brief break. Attention spans drop quickly in remote teaching—especially during emergencies—so long uninterrupted lectures are hard to follow.
Encourage student engagement – Use Zoom tools such as chat, polls, annotations, or the whiteboard to ask questions, check understanding, foster critical thinking, and enable discussion. If you’re unsure how to use these tools, feel free to contact us.
Add short group learning activities – Allocate 10–15 minutes per class for active learning in small groups or pairs (depending on class size) for discussion, problem-solving, or sharing insights. You can divide students into breakout rooms in Zoom.
Summarize the lesson – Conclude with a brief bullet-point summary and leave a few minutes for chat or verbal questions. If there are no questions, ask students to summarize the class briefly and share what topics remain unclear.
Share the recording and additional materials – Send the link to the recording, or share files written on your tablet or graphic board, as well as relevant links.
Send a brief summary of the lesson – If possible, right after the class, record or write a short summary with key highlights and send it to the students.
Request feedback from students – Ask students to share what helped them understand the material and what didn’t. The feedback will help improve your teaching and enhance their learning experience.
