Navigating Dual Delivery & BSL Teaching

The challenges of Dual Delivery and Blended Synchronous Learning (BSL) teaching are front-and-centre for us as teachers as we navigate a world of living with COVID-19. This month, we offer some simple take-aways that will help you adapt to this mode of teaching.

1. Keep it simple - For those of you who have never taught in a Dual Delivery/BSL mode, it can be overwhelming. So, our first piece of advice is to keep it simple. The foundational principles of good teaching will continue to serve you well! Even if you are familiar with using supporting educational technologies in your online or located classroom, proceed with caution. Dual Delivery teaching can throw up new challenges for even the most skilled multi-tasker.
2. Set expectations and build a culture of acceptance - Things may not go as smoothly as you might like – that’s ok, especially if you let your class know that this is a new experience for you as a teacher, as well as for them as students. Allow students the opportunity to let you know if things aren’t working for them (via chat, using the hands-up emoji or an in-class question) and allow time to adapt and adjust to these requests. Establish a culture of patience and acceptance.
3. Check your classroom (and check it again...) - Well ahead of time, locate your classroom or Zoom room, check the technology available, plug in your device, do a test run. If you have any issues, get support. If you have time, do it again, because things can change.
4. Don't forget your online students - It can be easy to slip into the habit of only teaching to those students in the classroom, so, if you are enacting a chat channel during a live stream lecture, or are engaged in BSL teaching, remember your online learners need to be engaged, too. It’s not just about checking in on them occasionally. How you use the space can impact their experience. If you step away from the lectern, can your online students still hear you? Can they still see you? Check in with them early in the class to make sure the audio and video is clear.
5. Get a helper - If you are enacting a chat channel during a live stream lecture or during BSL teaching, if you can, organise to get a Teaching Assistant to help out. Assign clear roles ahead of the class. For example, checking the chat, managing breakout groups or helping with the technology. If you don’t, consider assigning this role to a student that you can trust. This is something you might like to call out for ahead of the class, so you have time to discuss and plan.