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Organization and Engagement

In the Virtual Teaching & Learning Environment

Organization andEngagementIn the Virtual Teaching & Learning Environment

Streamline Your Learning Management System

Save time by organizing assignments and resources in your Learning Management System and increase communication with students and parents with the following tips. You can also review our Technology Tips & Tricks newsletter for more suggestions:

  • Google Classroom

    • To easily find assignments, include a number in the title of the task. Example: “#5 Math Fact Practice for 01.20.2021”

    • To organize resources, create a “Topic” folder called “Resources” and keep it at the top of the Classwork page for easy access

    • To demonstrate features of Google Classroom, create a demo student account

    • Read more at Look for Ways to Streamline your Google Classroom


  • Canvas

    • Encourage students to use To-Do Lists in the List View dashboard

    • Have students use Free Folio to store and showcase their work

    • Decrease the number of emails you receive by creating an “Ask Questions Here” discussion forum and pin at the top of the screen

    • Read more at Tips for Using Canvas During a School Closure


  • Seesaw

    • Specifically tailored to younger grades

    • Easily send announcements and messages to parents

    • Lets parents view their student's work, the teacher’s feedback, and provide their own feedback on their child’s work

    • Provides students the ability to share their learning in a variety of formats (picture, video, drawing)

    • Read more at We Are Teachers and Connect Design Learn

Student Engagement

“The way to get the most out of our students when teaching remotely is to take a step back. Let them have fun. Let them make mistakes. Make them feel ok, no matter how much work they are getting done” (Lisciandrello, 2020).


Use Video to Assess Student Attention in Virtual Class Meetings: This infographic details great suggestions for teachers to engage students in remote learning while keeping in mind issues of equity and access. Includes a checklist of “Do’s” and “Don’ts” for a quick refresher on video engagement.

Provide Opportunities for Students to Share with You

Here are a few suggestions for providing students the opportunity to connect with you in ways beyond traditional lessons:

Additional Resources