Enhancing the Virtual Classroom: Expert Tips for Creating an Optimal Online Learning Environment for Students
As online learning continues to evolve, it’s essential to create an environment that fosters inclusivity and engagement for every student.
The teens at Her Flowers came up with insightful strategies to make online learning more equitable. These recommendations aim to inform school staff and administration in developing policies that ensure virtual classrooms are spaces where everyone can thrive.
While all students may be viewing the same shared screen, their home environments—and how they feel within them—are vastly different. Here’s how we can make online learning more inclusive.
The Importance of Emotional Regulation in Learning
A quick dive into brain science: When students feel anxious, overwhelmed, or uncomfortable, their brain's ability to retain information diminishes. The brain enters survival mode—fight, flight, or freeze—pushing critical thinking and memory retention to the background.
As educators, no matter how engaging a lesson is, if a student is uncomfortable in their home space, focus becomes nearly impossible. This is especially true if students are required to keep their cameras on. Instead of learning, they may be preoccupied with how they are perceived on screen or managing distractions in their home environment.
Give students the option to have their camara on and create choice and agency in their learning environments.
Four Key Areas to Foster a Calm and Engaging Learning Space
1. Grounding Practices
Incorporating simple grounding exercises at the beginning of each virtual class can help students feel more centered. This could include deep breathing exercises, a quick mindfulness check-in, or a few moments of silent reflection. These activities help regulate students' nervous systems, preparing them to engage and absorb information.
2. Physical and Emotional Space
Acknowledge that not all students have a quiet, private space for learning. Be flexible and understanding. For some, home may not be the safest or most conducive environment for education. Encourage students to create boundaries where they can, whether it’s using headphones or having a set routine that marks “school time” versus “home time.”
3. Respect Boundaries & Agency
Give students the option to turn their cameras off. Forcing students to be on screen can increase anxiety and cause them to focus more on their appearance or background than on learning. Offer alternatives like engaging via chat or audio, or by using reaction emojis, to keep participation up without compromising comfort.
4. Collaboration and Connection
Encourage collaboration among students in ways that don’t solely rely on visual presence. Breakout rooms, group chats, or shared online boards like Google Jamboard can facilitate meaningful interaction without requiring everyone to have their camera on. Also, take the time to check in with students individually, creating a sense of connection and trust.
Implementing Equitable Policies for Virtual Learning
Creating virtual learning policies that consider students' diverse home environments plays a big role on student’s emotional states. Equitable policies should not just focus on lesson delivery but also on how students experience and feel in these virtual spaces.
By incorporating grounding techniques, respecting boundaries, and fostering connection without pressure, educators can create a more inclusive and engaging learning environment for all.
This shift toward inclusivity ensures that all students have the chance to succeed, no matter where or how they’re learning.
More notes on social justice:
