1. “Slow Internet”

Probably the biggest tech headache that people can face, slow Internet can be caused by several factors such as issues with your router, the device you are using, your location, the presence of spyware and viruses, etc. Router, modem or cable issues are best fixed by running straightforward troubleshooting checks, which we will look at here. First though, see what the actual speed of your Internet connection is by using a site such as speedtest.net.  You will need at least 10 megabits per second (Mbps) to browse the Internet comfortably and more if you are using Zoom, multiplayer gaming or downloading heavy files.

Check if the slowness just happens on one device or all of your devices. If it’s just one device, you know the solution is the device you are using. Try rebooting your computer, and if the problem persists, perform a malware scan with an antivirus software.

If the slowness is evident on multiple devices – then the problem is likely your network, and you will have to go to your router.   The next step is to simply reboot your router – unplugging it for about a minute or so.

Alternatively, your Internet might be fine and it’s actually a problem with your Wi-Fi signal that connects you to the Internet.  Try moving your device closer to your router to see if this improves the speed.

It might also be that the airwaves, for example, are experiencing a lot of traffic with too many devices nearby, especially if you’re using 2.4 GHz and not 5 GHz. This is a particularly common problem if you live in an apartment block, for example, with neighbours who have their wireless routers and multiple devices nearby.

Last but by no means least, if you have followed all these steps, there’s a good chance you need your Internet Service Provider (ISP) to solve the problem.  For example, there might be a problem with the cable line or equipment they use. In this case, you should report the problem.  Ultimately, as you are paying the Internet service provider, it’s their job to fix any problems on their end.

2. Can’t log in

Have you ever experienced login issues? If you have, you are definitely not alone. Login issues can be quite frustrating, especially when it involves one of our favourite platforms or websites. Imagine trying to log in to your favourite social media platform and getting the “incorrect username and password” memo, even when you are sure that the login details provided are correct.

Login issues are caused by a variety of factors. Of course, one of the obvious causes is wrong login/ password. Others are disabled cookies, network failure, internet traffic, viruses, server issues, etc.

To fix login issues, enable cookies for the website, clear history for the site, clear all cookies and the cache, check add-ons, remove corrupt cookies files, etc.

Say you experienced login issues with your Facebook account, and these tricks don’t work; the chances are that your account may have been hacked. If that is the case, you may want to hire a hacker for Facebook to help fix the issue and grant you access to your Facebook account. Remember to always guard your details judiciously to prevent them from falling into the wrong hands.

3. Pop-up ads

Many of us know what pop-up ads are, especially those who surf the internet a lot. Pop-up ads are one of the many ways through which web developers and companies make money. And yes, they can be very annoying sometimes. Aside from that, they can be used by hackers to steal personal information.

That aside, what are the causes of pop-up ads, and how can you fix them? Pop-up ads are caused by several factors, including adware, tech support scams, ransomware, and of course, they are used for genuine advertisements. Here are a few ways to fix pop-up ads issue:

• Don’t do the default installation
• Activate pop-up ad blocker on your device
• Install good anti-virus
• Uninstall odd software

4. Slow download on mobile devices

Many of us wish to speed up the downloading process. While the introduction of the 5G network has increased download speeds for those with access to this upgraded network, many of us still experience slow downloads due to one reason or the other. If you fall in this group of individuals, don’t fret, the issue can be fixed.

Try restarting your device, upgrading your mobile Internet package, disable other devices connected to your network or simply download one file at a time to fix the issue.

The pandemic has got the whole world actively engaged in online learning to one degree or another.  

Online learning can be challenging for both learners and educators alike, as it demands more attention and self-discipline on the part of the learner than traditional in-person classes.  That being said, the ability to work remotely does provide greater flexibility for learners and educators.

Here are some excellent tips to excel in your academics through an online learning system:  

1. Put an end to distraction 

During online learning, every learner must pay full attention to the teacher. Due to social media and household chores, people may feel less able to concentrate and more inclined to get themselves distracted. This distraction must be confronted directly, which requires active communication with parents and students, to ensure students are working in a quiet environment free from as many distractions as possible. 

2. Effective online communication

Given that in-person interaction is minimal, there should be an established relationship between students and teachers. Communication is a two-way street though, so both parties should work to develop their social presence. Communicating with instructors leads to effective learning, as it provides an opportunity to ask for help and engage with the content of the course.  It is particularly important to give thought to how much of the online communication should be asynchronous versus how much should be synchronous.  For more information on this topic, take a look at this post in which I discuss The Best Combination of Asynchronous & Synchronous Communication. 

3. Actively participate in class 

More opportunities for active participation and discussion leads to greater levels of student satisfaction and better learning outcomes. Students will experience deeper learning and feel more satisfied by their learning experience.  

When the teacher asks a question or fellow students share content, for example, it can help to have a discussion board where students can post questions and engage with their classmates after the lesson.  This discussion board can be found on the assignment window or stream of Google Classroom or a dedicated space on Padlet could be created, for example.  The idea is simply to get students posting their questions about the assignments they are working on.  Evidence-based learning shows that a peer-to-peer learning environment leads to more profound and memorable learning experiences. 

4. Goal Setting & Schedules 

It is imperative that students have a clear schedule for their studies. This can be simply be a spreadsheet timetable with hyperlinks to all the students’ Zoom lessons, for example.  This helps students to manage their study time to remain more focused. 

5. Avoid tiredness and fatigue

Attending continuous classes via Zoom screen can make anyone feel tired. It is important that both teachers and students take regular breaks away from their screens to avoid “Zoom fatigue”!   Rest and physical exercise form a crucial part of the learning process. 

6. Stay Motivated

The world has changed significantly over the the past year and a half.  Self-isolation, social distancing and mask-wearing has naturally left many people feeling down.  Students can need help to keep themselves motivated, so rewards and praise for excellent progress or for completing assignments can go a long way. 

This was a guest post by Abroo Murtaza.

Abroo recommends See TEFL for online courses to teach English as a foreign language.

As part of our transition from e-learning to face-to-face classes, our teachers have embraced an educational approach known as ‘blended learning’.  This model combines the best of online educational platforms and online interaction (via Zoom, Google Meet or Hangouts, for example) with traditional, face-to-face teaching methods.  In other words, the blended learning model entails some elements of online instruction with the physical presence of both teacher and students.

In the process of transitioning to a blended learning environment, our teachers have done an amazing job delivering face-to-face lessons for the children in school whilst simultaneously, live streaming these lessons for children at home.  To make this possible, our teachers sign into Zoom or Google Meet, and the webcam then captures the introductory part of the lesson.  The children based at home are then able to take part in these lessons before signing out, to work on and submit their assignments via the Google Classroom.  The beauty of this model is that it enables all children, independent of distance, to take an active part in their learning.  The two groups (A and B) can also see and talk with one another via the video link.     

The power of our digital technologies used in school to both facilitate and further enhance students’ learning cannot be understated.  For students at home, in addition to the live streamed lessons, this group is provided with tutorial videos and other forms of content to consume at their own pace whilst communicating with peers and teachers using the online learning tools, principally Google Classroom and Hangout.  The ability for students to pause, rewind and fast-forward a tutorial video, for example, means that they are in a much better situation to assimilate new learning.  For students in school, they have further opportunities to apply and extend what they have learnt with additional assistance from the teacher.  

In order to make the lesson time itself more engaging while integrating formative assessment, our teaching teams use many of the latest web-based tools, including BrainPOP, Education City and, of course, the Google Apps for Education.  The school’s Google suite of tools, in particular, as well as other platforms such as Flipgrid, Padlet and NearPod, have proven to be fantastic tools for students themselves to become authors, teachers and collaborators, working together to teach content to one other.  As well as giving students opportunities to use these tools, teachers themselves regularly use these platforms as a medium in which to share information with students for them to learn at their own pace.  

That being said, as educational professionals, it is important for us not to lose sight of the fact that we should focus on pedagogy first and technology second – or to put it another way, pedagogy always trumps technology!  This is because, when integrating technology, it is less about the tools and more about what can be done with the tools handed to us.

I am proud to say that our blended learning approach has further facilitated an environment in which students are becoming more active creators instead of solely passive content recipients.  After all, students learn best in an environment that they “own”, which adjusts rapidly to meet their learning needs and interests.  As a team, we are continually learning how to effectively embed these learning technologies into our teaching practice.  Indeed, as we gradually return to normality, we are looking forward to taking what we have learnt during these peculiar times, to further enhance our teaching practice and develop students’ learning.

Since the crisis of COVID-19 took hold several weeks ago, our teachers have been embracing different learning platforms while honing their skills with innovative ways of teaching digitally.  In addition to Class Dojo, which is mainly used for announcements and communication with parents, and Google Classroom, which is mainly used for delivering assignments to students, teachers have been trialling other, engaging platforms.  

One of these new apps is the screencasting app, Loom.  For those who are not sure, screencasting is where you narrate a video recording of your computer screen – a very handy skill to learn when teaching online!  The advantage of an app like Loom is that it also records a video of the teacher talking, and this appears on the side of the screencast, making the teacher’s explanation much more intuitive to follow.  I have found the app to be particularly effective for the purpose of making ‘Read-Alouds’. 

Here’s a quick example I made for a Read-Aloud of the book, ‘Seeds of Change’:

Loom

The second app we have been using a lot of is the video conference platform, Zoom.  Participants can join a Zoom meeting without having the app installed or needing to sign into the app.  It is only necessary to sign up for an account if you wish to host a video conference.  We have been using this platform mainly for “meet & greet” sessions with students and parents.  After many days in quarantine, this platform can provide a brilliant way for teachers and students to touch base with one another.  Kahoot quizzes complement this platform well and could be used at the beginning of a lesson.  Likewise, Zoom works particularly well at the end of lessons, for example for a Q & A session after students have completed an online task.

As this app involves two-way communication, it’s really important to ensure that everyone is aware of key netiquette rules to follow (that are unique to video conferences) – I explain these netiquette rules for students in the tutorial video below:

Zoom