Teaching Effectively with Zoom: A practical guide to engage your students and help them learn

by Dan Maurice Levy

In early 2020, because of COVID-19, many colleges and schools around the world closed, and many teachers, instructors, and faculty members had to learn how to teach online in a hurry. This book takes a step back, and focuses on helping educators teach effective live online sessions with Zoom. Dan Levy, a faculty member at Harvard University, offers practical pedagogical advice for educators on questions such •Why and how to use breakout rooms?•Should you use chat, and if so, how?•How do you build community in a virtual classroom?The book is based on the author’s own experience teaching in person and online at Harvard University, observations of several colleagues teaching virtually, research-based principles of effective teaching and learning, tips from the readers of the first edition of the book, and, perhaps just as importantly, interviews with dozens of students who have had to adapt to online learning. This second edition, updated for 2021, incorporates more innovative practices from a wider range of instructors and includes teaching approaches that are made possible by updates or new features that Zoom launched after the first edition was published.

Genres: Teaching

241 pages, Paperback

Published December 17, 2020

Reviews

[Jason · Rating 2 out of 5]

(I’m an academic who teaches graduate courses in this area so keep that in mind re this review). So this is a lightweight tech manual that offers quasi-sound educational advice. Very little to no inclusion of online learning best practices. The entirety of the discussion on pedagogy is limited to a few passing references to learn how to improve your own teaching approach, but is sophomoric in its treatment. No discussion of andragogy etc. No discussion of online learning research or equity-focused approaches. Tech. Tech. Tech. Ick.

[Gary Bourke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book. It taught me a lot, even after a year of teaching with Zoom myself.

The ideas that Dan offers inspired me to try many more things not mentioned in the book and be more creative. These changes made my approach and class far more interactive and engaging for my students.

[Rohit Verma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent tips. Simple, elegant and highly effective.

I have tried most of them in my classes. They really work. Practice is key, though. Don’t practice on your students. And don’t assume that everything will work just because it worked the last time. Thank you for sharing the templates and slides also. I appreciate Your generosity.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, easy, helpful!