Using Zoom to Teach Middle School Theater During the Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced teachers to rethink how they deliver instruction, and theater teachers are no exception. With students unable to meet in person, many teachers have turned to virtual platforms like Zoom to continue teaching their classes.

Roll With It: Using D&D to teach middle school theater during the pandemic

4.1 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3709 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	45 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

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Teaching theater virtually presents unique challenges, but it also offers some opportunities. By using Zoom's features creatively, teachers can create engaging online lessons that foster collaboration and allow students to develop their theater skills.

Creating Engaging Online Lessons

One of the biggest challenges of teaching theater virtually is creating lessons that are engaging and keep students motivated. Here are a few tips:

• Use a variety of activities. Don't just lecture at your students for the entire class period. Mix things up with activities like games, discussions, and role-playing.
• Incorporate multimedia. Use videos, music, and images to make your lessons more visually appealing and engaging.
• Break up your lessons into smaller chunks. Students have shorter attention spans when they're learning online, so it's important to break up your lessons into smaller, more manageable chunks.
• Make time for breaks. Just like in a face-to-face classroom, it's important to give students breaks throughout the class period. This will help them stay focused and engaged.

Fostering Collaboration

Another challenge of teaching theater virtually is fostering collaboration among students. Here are a few tips:

• Use breakout rooms. Breakout rooms are a great way to allow students to work together on projects in small groups.
• Encourage students to use the chat feature. The chat feature can be used for students to ask questions, share ideas, and collaborate on projects.
• Use online collaboration tools. There are a number of online collaboration tools that can be used for theater students to work together on projects, such as Google Docs, Google Slides, and Padlet.

Assessing Student Work

Assessing student work is another challenge of teaching theater virtually. Here are a few tips:

• Use a variety of assessment methods. Don't just rely on one method of assessment, such as written tests. Use a variety of methods, such as performance assessments, self-reflections, and peer feedback.
• Provide clear feedback. When you're assessing student work, be sure to provide clear feedback so that students know what they did well and what they need to improve on.
• Be flexible. The pandemic has created a lot of uncertainty, so it's important to be flexible when it comes to assessing student work. Be willing to adjust your deadlines and expectations as needed.

Teaching theater virtually during the pandemic presents unique challenges, but it also offers some opportunities. By using Zoom's features creatively, teachers can create engaging online lessons that foster collaboration and allow students to develop their theater skills.

Roll With It: Using D&D to teach middle school theater during the pandemic

4.1 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3709 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	45 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE