Students connect with German peers in virtual classroom (2024)

Students connect with German peers in virtual classroom (1)

Amanda Shufflebarger brought an abundant array of personal and educational experiences in Germany to her new role as assistant professor of education at Indiana University East.

She was excited, then, after starting the job late last summer that those experiences and her educational interests would align perfectly with Indiana University’s Global Classroom Initiative.

Students connect with German peers in virtual classroom (2)

So perfect, in fact, that she is already leading a Global Classroom this spring semester with her class, Writing for Teachers. She did so with the help of a $3,000 fellowship grant from the initiative.

Among Shufflebarger’s experiences in Germany are a year teaching, a year attending public schools and a visit through a study abroad program.

The new global class for IU East has its roots in a talk between her and Julien Simon last August at the orientation for new faculty.

He is an associate professor of World Languages and Cultures and director of study abroad. In that role, he constantly is on the watch for instructors who are open to adding online global components to their classes.

“She seemed very interested. She had connections,” Simon said about his initial meeting with Shufflebarger. “We thought it would work well.”

And it has worked very well, indeed.

Another country was added to the global educational experience at IU East – and another is coming as early as the next academic year. They are working to set up a nine-day study abroad program to Germany.

By being virtual-based, Global Classrooms are separate from study abroad programs – but they certainly are complementary. “If students participate in a class, they might make the decision to go (on a trip there). That is the premise,” Simon said.

He uses many ways to get the word out about global education possibilities, including workshops, emails, flyers, brainstorming sessions and one-on-one discussions. “I have been heavily promoting the stipend and fellowship since the beginning. I am there to facilitate the process,” he said.

The initiative has helped five other instructors from IU East.

Wazir Mohamed taught a course last fall, titled Global Society, with a fellowship grant. He is a professor of sociology in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences.

He joined 2021-22 fellows Jaynne Rivas, assistant professor of management, Shari Fowler,assistant professor of accounting, Chien-Chung Chen, associate professor of marketing, and Josh Tolbert, associate professor of education.

The IU Global Classroom fellowship grants will be available again for the 2023-24 academic year.

IU Global Classroom
Transform a course with global engagement. Add an international academic experience, without leaving campus.

Students connect with German peers in virtual classroom (3)

IU East also offers its own stipend program for starting new classes.

Online engagement is the cornerstone of the Global Classroom Initiative, which is available at IU and its eight regional campuses. The goal is to encourage classes that are already being taught to collaborate internationally on a virtual project.

The parallel classes can have similar focuses, but there basically is no way to perfectly connect. For example, the class at the University of Hamburg was focused on special education and the class from IU East on writing.

Projects can cover any topic, according to the GCI web site.

Shufflebarger got help in connecting with instructor Claudia Mertens, who specializes in inclusive and special education at University of Hamburg.

Students in their classes used Zoom to meet this semester.

It takes a lot of planning and work for instructors to prepare an international connection. In that realm, Shufflebarger shared the syllabus for Writing for Teachers and communicated often with Mertens about how the collaboration would work. Nonetheless, the connection between classes and instructors depends a lot on learning on the go.

“The goal wasn’t to be perfect. It was to engage and learn from the dialogue,” Shufflebarger said. “We jumped in and made it happen.”

The 25 students from IU East met with their peers at 9 a.m., a six-hour difference from Hamburg. They did follow-up projects after talking together. Some groups needed to meet just once and others needed to connect more often.

“It’s been really fun to do,” Shufflebarger said. “Students were a little uncertain at first with language and expectations. But, they were really engaged and had great conversations with each other. The initial concerns evaporated.”

Junior Halie Scott agreed the experience was educational and fun. “My group had a blast. We talked about a bunch of things,” Scott said.

The interaction was particularly relevant – and fun – for Scott because she is currently learning to speak German and is majoring in creative writing.

“Everyone in my group spoke English, although I know some other groups had some troubles with that,” said the student from Liberty, Indiana. “The time zone was definitely interesting. They were ending their day and we were pretty much beginning our day.”

Scott said it was good “to hear not only about the differences in our education systems but just differences in our lives.”

Shufflebarger wanted the students to be enthused by sharing the similarities and differences in teaching and learning between the countries.

“They collaborate and bring back new ideas,” Shufflebarger said. “They have to think creatively.”

Scott would be onboard with going on a study abroad trip: “I would definitely consider visiting Germany after this experience.” She also is definite about advising other IU East students to take classes that feature a Global Classroom component.

Shufflebarger earned a PH.D. in Second Language Acquisition and Teaching at University of Arizona in Tucson. She has extensive roots in university education in Indiana, earning an M.A. in English at IUPUI and a B.A. at Purdue University. She previously was employed as an English teacher and department chair at Catalina High School in Tucson. She has published several peer-reviewed articles.

She is happy to be at IU East. “My colleagues are supportive and student-centered,” she said. “They are open to me and others taking on projects. There is a lot of support for that.”

Shufflebarger also is happy to live again in Indiana compared to the climate of southern Arizona: “It’s very green here. I enjoy the trees and the seasons.”

Students connect with German peers in virtual classroom (2024)

FAQs

How teachers can connect with students virtually? ›

Connecting with students in the online classroom
  • Use video content. Keep your virtual lessons and feedback engaging by adding videos where possible. ...
  • Add a personal touch. ...
  • Focus on relationships. ...
  • Encourage a sense of community. ...
  • Make a classroom playlist.

How do you encourage students to speak up in virtual classes? ›

  1. Share Your Questions Ahead of Time. ...
  2. Establish Rules That Encourage Participation. ...
  3. Ask Simple Questions in Chat. ...
  4. Follow Up on Those Questions. ...
  5. Be Clear About What You're Asking For. ...
  6. Don't Shame Attendees. ...
  7. Count Away the Silence. ...
  8. It's a Conversation, Not an Interview.
Jan 20, 2022

How do you engage students in a virtual classroom? ›

10 Tips to Engage Students Online
  1. Communicate Regularly and Often. ...
  2. Make Expectations Clear. ...
  3. Ensure Ease of Navigation. ...
  4. Practice Seeing Things from the Student Perspective. ...
  5. Create a Discussion Plan Strategy. ...
  6. Promote “Casual Interaction” ...
  7. Hold Virtual Office Hours. ...
  8. Survey Students with CATs.

How do you make students interact in online classes? ›

Below are specific approaches you can take to build a hospitable online course and foster student-student interaction.
  1. Begin with an Icebreaker. ...
  2. Incorporate Group Work. ...
  3. Craft Thoughtful Discussions. ...
  4. Open Multiple Communication Channels. ...
  5. Encourage Social Connection. ...
  6. Include Collaborative Writing and Peer Review.

How do I make my virtual teaching interactive? ›

Tips on How to Make Online Classes More Interactive
  1. Let People Choose What They Want to Discuss. ...
  2. Combine Different Media Types. ...
  3. Check Students' Progress More Often. ...
  4. Invite Students to Contribute. ...
  5. Give Homework Assignments. ...
  6. Ask Questions During Online Classes. ...
  7. Try Running a Cohort-Based Course. ...
  8. Micro-Learning.
Apr 8, 2023

How can you connect with your students during the class? ›

Arrive early for class and stay a bit later to chat with students and address any questions they may have. Learn students' names. Ask students questions about their experiences related to course content. Be available and encourage students to meet with you, either during office hours or after class.

Why do students struggle with virtual learning? ›

Lack of motivation

Due to a lack of face-to-face interaction, some students find it hard to focus during online classes. The physical absence of teachers or classmates takes away the sense of urgency to attend classes on time, meet deadlines, and make progress. This could lead to procrastination and declining grades.

How do you make a virtual classroom more effective? ›

5 Strategies To Improve Your Online Classroom Environment
  1. Create Fun Daily Icebreakers. ...
  2. Encourage Interactive Participation Among Students. ...
  3. Host Small Groups In Breakout Rooms. ...
  4. Illustrate On An Online Whiteboard. ...
  5. Create Polls & Quizzes To Test Knowledge. ...
  6. Schedule "Down Time" Between Lessons Throughout The Day.

What is one way to increase student engagement during an online class? ›

Encourage your students to ask questions

Use opportunities like office hours and breakout groups (on Zoom, Teams, or Collaborate, for example) to encourage discussion among peers. Also, utilize discussion forums to solicit questions from your students. All students can benefit from a question asked from one student.

How to make connections with peers in an online course? ›

Five Tips for Connecting with Others as an Online Student
  1. Reach Out Right Away. ...
  2. Embrace Social Media. ...
  3. Be An Active Participant. ...
  4. Add Value To The Classroom. ...
  5. Put Yourself Out There.

How do you keep students attention in a virtual classroom? ›

Capture students' attention in virtual learning by employing engaging multimedia, interactive activities, and real-world relevance. Use dynamic presentation styles, incorporating visuals, videos, and virtual field trips. Encourage participation through polls, discussions, and breakout sessions.

How to support students in online learning? ›

  1. Clear Communication Channels and Timely Responses.
  2. Comprehensive Course Materials and Resources.
  3. Interactive Discussion Forums and Peer-to-Peer Collaboration.
  4. Personalized Feedback and Assessment Strategies.
  5. Live Virtual Office Hours and Q&A Sessions.
  6. Accessible Technical Support for Platform Navigation Issues.
Mar 6, 2024

How to communicate with peers online? ›

Use respectful language

Consider the online environment and the audience when communicating. A casual conversation with friends is very different from a respectful conversation with lecturers. Whilst typing a message to your lecturers and peers, make sure that you are careful with capitalisation.

How do you encourage students to interact? ›

Student interaction factors
  1. Know your students. In addition to their names and experiences, determine their skills and knowledge. ...
  2. Create a welcoming learning environment. Make students feel comfortable and important. ...
  3. Set and communicate expectations. ...
  4. Encourage students to interact positively with one another.

Why is student engagement important in online learning? ›

By increasing engagement in the online learning environment, positive outcomes can be expected. When the student becomes engaged, we will see an increase in the student's performance, attitudes towards others, improved communication, and long-term commitment to their collegiate environment and studies.

How do teachers communicate with students online? ›

These might include e-mail, discussion groups, chat room office hours, cell phones, and even text messaging. Instructors want to help you to succeed in your classes and will answer your questions.

How teachers can connect with students virtually using Google meet? ›

Your account looks like you@yourschool.edu.
  • Go to classroom.google.com and click Sign In. ...
  • Click the class.
  • Choose an option: ...
  • (Optional) To allow Meet to use your camera and microphone, click Allow.
  • In Meet, at the top, make sure you're signed in with your school account. ...
  • To join the class video meeting, click Join now.

How do teachers make connections with students? ›

Borrowing principles from psychology, teachers can employ proximity, “I need help,” callbacks, and authenticity to help cultivate positive relationships with students. Building strong relationships with high school students can improve their academic performance and give them a sense of belonging.

How can teachers support students in online learning? ›

Both verbal and written communication are key to supporting online students. Students learn best when they receive immediate feedback on skill development, homework, papers, projects, and class participation. Providing daily academic feedback is a foundation of good teaching everywhere.

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