A key technical factor relating to the successful multi-modal delivery is audio. Virtual students being unable to properly hear the professor and in-person student responses is the most common complaint.
The mic array will be able to pick up most student questions and responses. However, many factors contribute to the audio experience of the virtual students:
- general noise level within the classroom (e.g. moving chairs, rustling papers, students talking with each other etc.)
- quality of the virtual students speakers or head-set
- audio settings – of in-class equipment and the virtual students’ audio settings
It is a good idea to adopt some teaching best practices that include:
- Re-stating in-person student questions and comments – so that virtual students can hear them
- Making a habit of checking in with remote students at the beginning of class to ensure that their audio is working okay
View practices for ensuring a good audio experience.
Research has shown that teaching in a multi-modal environment can be mentally effortful since you are constantly having to switch attention between your in-person/virtual student audiences, between different monitors, and different panels within Zoom (e.g. the chat and participant panels).
However, planning your class sessions and practicing the technology workflows for
key teaching and learning situations will help you to develop confidence.
Consider asking a student to work as a chat monitor. They can inform you of questions that pop up while you are facilitating.
The multi-modal classroom comes with a video camera, mic array, document camera, and multiple monitors. This additional equipment requires being able to set up the learning and teaching scenario that you envision.
The good news is that this can be reasonably managed through Zoom and the existing classroom technology set up. However, it does require familiarity and practice.
Review how to use the multi-modal classroom technology to support certain kinds of learning activities.
Design learning activities to ensure participation by both in-person and virtual students.
Review active learning ideas that support engagement for all students.
View example class planning examples that show how to design and deliver activities for multiple student audiences.
Most faculty are used to writing on the whiteboard during their lessons. Since the video camera does not pick up whiteboard writing well, a different way to share written annotation would be a good idea.
Review ways in which you can write during your lesson – for in-person and virtual students to see – that does not require the whiteboard.
Also, group work and small-group discussions will work differently.
Review ideas for managing group work and small group activities