A Report of an Action Research : Zoom

Topic: Strategies to ensure students' active participation during online classes: A case in Zoom 

1.     Introduction

'Online classes' has now become a popular word among the students, parents and teachers. Because of COVID-19 pandemic, most of the schools do not have face to face classes. There is 'lock down' in most of the countries and areas for a long time. The government and Education Offices have encouraged/ordered the schools to start online classes: either synchronous or asynchronous. In spite of the fact that we cannot have fact-to-face learning environment in the situation of pandemics students' learning must be continued. As teachers, we must have to start learning, use and deliver the content to the students using any of the suitable or appropriate modes of teaching learning.

From the word itself, an online class is a course conducted using the internet. In online classes the students and the teachers interact through a learning management system. Online classes can be synchronous or asynchronous being based on the availability of sources, students' level and needs. In such classes, students and teachers may meet together where they can have live interactions, or students may use the materials given by their teachers on their suitable time.

Developments in the field of mobile technology have made online classes easier. Today, mobile devices have become very popular and people have inexpensive and easy access to it. Various mobile applications are found which can be used in teaching and learning process. A mobile phone may have various applications, i.e. with easily available software a mobile phone can become a camera, a web browser, a TV, a radio, a bookshelf, a voice recorder, a dictionary, a calculator and many more things. It is easy for students to be connected with teachers using mobile phone.

There are various tools to be used in online classes. Among them Zoom is popular and easier one. Although it is a new tool, it is being popular in the field of education. Zoom allows video conferencing among the teacher and students. Students can install the Zoom application and directly join the video conference, which seems to be real classroom, using the ID and Passcode. Zoom allows sharing screen, video and audio. It also allows whiteboard and annotation on screen. There is the facility of group chat and individual chat, which allows students to ask and discuss. Zoom allows to host up to 100 participants, and group meetings for up to 40 minutes free of cost.

Although there are many advantages of online classes, they also have some cons. Lack of suitable device, lack of secure internet connection, lack of electricity and other factors hinder students' participation in classes. There may be some students in the class who are connected but are not participating actively in the activities.

 

2.     Objectives

The objectives of the study are as follows:

i.        to find out effective strategy to ensure students' active participation in Zoom.

ii.      to use the findings in online classes, specially for Zoom.

 

3.     Activities

It is a big challenge for teachers to keep students' attention in online classes. Although the students join or get connected in Zoom conference, everyone do not participate in activities actively. Students may totally be inactive as it is difficult to see all the students in a screen. In earlier classes, it was difficult for me to know whether students are actively working on the subject matter or not. I used to ask in the whole group and they didn't use to response my questions. Hardly one-two students responded.

I had to ensure students' active participation in activities from which they learn something from the class. I tried the following activities with the following plan, act, observe and reflect cycle in every activity.

Activity I

First, I asked the students to turn on the video during the class. Nearly ten percentages of the students turned the camera on. Students found it difficult to share their video during the conference. They didn’t want to show where they are and how they look. It will not be a good idea to force them to turn on their video. On the other side it was difficult for me to see the participants while sharing the screen.

Activity II

I continued intervening as I was not satisfied with the result. I asked the students to listen all the things carefully and response my questions. I said them I would ask questions to them individually and they have to respond instantly.

I continued the classes and tried to get their attention by asking questions individually. This time nearly half of the students responded but they didn’t answer my questions correctly. They just waited for their name and were not involved in learning process. They may not have written notes either.

Activity III

            The situation was not satisfied for me. I wanted them answer my questions correctly and make note together with discussion. This time, I made them response by their name and show the note using the back camera which they have written.

I asked the students individually. They answered nearly correctly and they showed the notes (although incomplete) prepared during the class. Most of the students participated actively in the lessons.

4.     Findings

Only few students turned the front camera on and some students only responded the questions correctly. Asking students for instant response by name and asking them to show the written note helped for effective online learning. It was difficult to see all the students at once but it was needed to ensure their active participation. All students were waiting for their name and they were prepared themselves. It was possible for all the students to have their turn to show the note. Students didn't hesitate follow the above mentioned tasks.

 

5.     Reflection

I asked the students to prepare the note/points together with me. Any of the students would be called for response. They were not distracted from the lesson and sometimes they were asking me to repeat. Although, the first intervention was not satisfied, I found the second and the third intervention useful. I am satisfied with the findings and the result.

 

6.     Conclusion

Keeping attention is the most in any sorts of classes. If we followed the students using various techniques, they would not be distracted. If students keep attention to the lesson, the lesson will be livelier, interactive and there will be less or more learning.

This study helped me ensure students' active participation in online learning, and to use various techniques in the class. Students' attention helped for better presentation of the materials and probably better learning too.