Other digital tools and resources
In Step 1.6, we talked about the equipment an online teacher needs and the resources an online teacher can use, such as puppets and realia. In this step, we’re going to introduce you to some digital tools that help to make digital lessons more successful.
Task
In the video Helen and Mary talk about some digital tools and some ways they can be used in online teaching. Watch the video and make notes about what they say the tools can be used for.
| Teacher | Tool | Use |
| Helen | A grammar reference tool (e.g. Cambridge Online Dictionary Grammar) | |
| Mary | Screen or slide sharing | |
| Mary | Google Docs | |
| Helen | An online noticeboard | |
| Mary | Memrise, Quizlet and other games/activities |
Please note down your answers on a piece of paper
Adding a whiteboard
Digital tools and resources aren’t obligatory in online lessons but some teachers find them useful and learners enjoy using them. One such tool is a whiteboard. You’ll remember from your research in the previous step that Zoom and WebRoom have an in-built whiteboard so you don’t need to use a separate tool if you are using these platforms. If, however, you use a platform which doesn’t have its own whiteboard (e.g. Skype), you might want to add one.
Miro is an interactive whiteboard tool that teachers can use in live online lessons. The free version offers three editable boards which you can share with students so that you and they can see what’s written there. If you’re interested in using this tool, go to Miro’s Help Center to find out how to use it.
Reflect and share
How can teachers and students use an interactive whiteboard in an online lesson? Share your ideas in the comments below.
