Wait...what ARE virtual lesson plans, anyway? Virtual lesson plans are simply online versions of teacher lesson plans that students can access 24/7. Think Google Forms, Google Slides, Escape Rooms, etc. Do you get the idea?
But, why SHOULD I do this? I mean, we all have our regular lesson plans already. Well, online lesson plans can decrease the amount of planning. (We ALL know teachers need more time, right?!) Virtual lesson plans can be self-grading! Can you imagine yourself with decreased grading time?! Here at Online Teacher Coach, we use apps like Nearpod and VoiceThread. Here is a recent blog about Nearpod!
You get the idea. Now, on to how, exactly, to create virtual lesson plans without spending a ton of time.
Tip #1: Find Free Virtual Lesson Plans!
Yes, you heard me right. Find some free plans and simply adapt them! You could search google for free lesson plans for teachers. But, that would take hours to sort through. Here is a better idea. Try Teachers Pay Teachers and simply search the "free" price category. Online Teacher Coach has TONS of ready-made lesson plans for language teachers in our lesson plan store. But, we also give lesson plans away for FREE. All you need to do is contact us! onlineteachercoach@gmail.com
Tip #2: Adapt your Lesson Plans for Virtual Teaching!
If you have a Word document or PowerPoint, simply upload them into your Google Drive.
You will need to allow sharing with anyone with the link so that you can send it to your students. Here is a quick video on how to share from Google drive.
Also, make sure that you have folders set up so that you can keep organized. Here is a short video on how to do that.
Now that you have uploaded your lesson plans into Google Drive (and can send them to students with one click), let's move on to tip #3.
Tip #3: Try Virtual Lesson Plan Apps
There are SO many apps out there to create virtual lesson plans. Though some of them do cost money, others are free. I will concentrate on the free ones since I know teachers don't (but should!) make more money. In fact, we GIVE away many of our virtual lesson plans for FREE! Here is a recent blog on our top free virtual lesson apps.
Jamboard
Google Jamboard is a digital whiteboard that allows for remote or in-person collaboration in a shared space. You can simply take a screenshot of a PowerPoint and upload it into your Google Jamboard. Easy, peasy! Here is my free template, just because I want to empower online teachers like you!
Want something more interactive AND asynchronous? (Asynchronous virtual lesson plans put students in charge of their learning and SAVES YOU TIME!)
Nearpod
Nearpod is an interactive classroom tool to engage students by adding interactive activities to your lessons like polls, collaboration boards, and game-based quizzes. Students can interact and submit responses through any mobile device or laptop. While there is a cost associated with it, you can get started for free and allow up to 40 students to join with all of the same functionality. Here is a collection of French Nearpod Virtual Lesson Plans. Once you copy them into your account, you can edit and customize them!
Tip #4: Collaborate with Others and Share the Content!
One of the best parts of teaching is sharing lesson plans. I mean, one teacher cannot do it all alone! Why not find another teacher in your subject area and work together? Or, buy something, split the cost, and share?! For example, if you are a language teacher, you might head on over to Teachers Pay Teachers and locate a great resource. I know...I know...they cost money. But, what if you split the cost and BOTH used it?!!
Alternatively, you could find someone to make them FOR YOU. Okay, again...it cost s money but if it saves you time, isn't it worth it? But, here is the thing...in addition to having someone develop these virtual lesson plans FOR YOU, don't you need training on how to use them? That's why Online Teacher Coach offers virtual lesson plans ALONGSIDE the training!
We know it's hard to be a teacher. We also know that teachers are leaving the profession in droves. Save yourself some time and work and consider virtual lesson plans!
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