--- title: Helping Students Learn at Home description: "We explore ideas of when and where your students should learn while their homes becomes their \"school.\"" image: https://blog.nise.institute/hubfs/blog%202.%20tip%201.jpg --- [![National Institute for STEM Education](https://blog.nise.institute/hubfs/NISE_August2019%20Theme/img/logo-nise.png "National Institute for STEM Education - Go to Home Page") ](http://nise.institute/index.php) # [NISE](http://nise.institute/index.php) [ Get STEM Certified! ](http://webstore.nise.institute/) [* * ](https://www.facebook.com/NISE.STEM/) [* * ](https://twitter.com/NISE_STEM) [* * ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-institute-for-stem-education) - About NISE - [Program Overview](https://nise.institute/program-overview.php) - [Philosophy & Design](https://nise.institute/philosophy-and-design.php) - [Research](https://nise.institute/resources/nise_stem_observation_protocol_teacher_actions_that_matter_wp.pdf) - Certification - [Micro Certification](https://nise.institute/micro-certification.php) - [Teacher Certification](https://nise.institute/teacher-certification.php) - [Campus Certification](https://nise.institute/campus-district-certification.php) - University Partnerships - [SNHU Graduate Programs](https://nise.institute/#university-partnerships) - [ACE Graduate Programs](https://nise.institute/#ace) - Resources - [News](https://nise.institute/news.php) - [Blog](https://blog.nise.institute/) - About NISE - [Program Overview](https://nise.institute/program-overview.php) - [Philosophy & Design](https://nise.institute/philosophy-and-design.php) - [Research](https://nise.institute/resources/nise_stem_observation_protocol_teacher_actions_that_matter_wp.pdf) - Certification - [Micro Certification](https://nise.institute/micro-certification.php) - [Teacher Certification](https://nise.institute/teacher-certification.php) - [Campus Certification](https://nise.institute/campus-district-certification.php) - University Partnerships - [SNHU Graduate Programs](https://nise.institute/#university-partnerships) - [ACE Graduate Programs](https://nise.institute/#ace) - Resources - [News](https://nise.institute/news.php) - [Blog](https://blog.nise.institute/) # Helping Students Learn at Home Posted by [Craig Leager](https://blog.nise.institute/author/craig-leager) on Mar 30, 2020 10:35:48 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) As students transition to online learning, educators must help them understand what “doing school” will look like as their *home* becomes their *school*. In this third edition of the series [*Making Online Ins**truction Work – Now!*](https://blog.nise.institute/tag/making-online-instruction-work-now), we explore ideas to consider and share with your students and parents to help their home become “school.” You can help your students by considering three important questions about learning remotely: - Where will your students learn? - When will your students learn? - What will help keep them motivated? ## Where Will Your Students Learn? While learning at home, students need places that support their learning. Their learning space does not need to mirror the classroom; however, clearly defining learning space(s) in the home provides structure that benefits both your student and other members of the household. - Encourage your students to **establish a consistent learning space** (or two) where they can concentrate. Keep in the mind the range of needs your students have. For some of your students, their learning space may be: - Encourage your students to **eliminate distractions** as much as possible. Here are a few suggestions: **Tip:  ***Students need learning places where they can focus as much as possible.* *![learning spaces](https://blog.nise.institute/hubfs/blog%202.%20tip%201.jpg)* ## When Will Your Students Learn? Learning (and teaching) online offers flexibility and personalization, allowing students to spend extended time on tasks of high interest, take breaks when needed, and work at their own pace. However, most students need help thinking through how to manage their time. Below are tips you may want to share.   - [Encourage students to do schoolwork every day](https://blog.nise.institute/online-classroom-routines-making-online-instruction-work-now).  - Set consistent times for learning tasks each day. Keep in mind, for some of your students this time may: - Encourage students to work from a daily to-do list you provide.  Suggest that they - Encourage students to take short breaks.  Breaks can be: **Tip:  ***Your students need to attend school DAILY—even in the virtual classroom.* *![attend school daily](https://blog.nise.institute/hubfs/blog%202.%20tip%202.jpg)* ## What Will Help Keep Them Motivated? There are typically many variables that help students stay motivated while at school - everything from seeing friends to participating in special classes such as physical education or music. The online classroom needs to provide the same motivation, but the “how” needs to adapt to the change in format. Here are some things teachers can do to help keep students engaged with coursework. Do you notice these items are the same, whether on-site or online? - Be explicit about what students are supposed to complete. - Provide timely feedback. - Acknowledge students' efforts!  - Focus on the things that are working, and that are within your, and your students’, control.  Learning online does not have to mean learning alone! As described in our [*Virtual Relationships Matter*](https://blog.nise.institute/virtual-relationships-matter) blog, it is important that students continue to interact with peers when learning from home. There are many strategies educators can use to keep students engaged with others.  - Collaborative Projects Properly structured group work and collaboration are valuable learning tasks. To support interdependent virtual work, make sure students know:  - - what learning outcomes and deliverables are expected - the roles and responsibilities of group members - how to use the required software - how grading will work - when and how to turn in work - Online Group Activities If we use the dynamic resources available to us, there are many opportunities for students to engage with others in motivating activities throughout their day! Here are a few options, all of which are possible virtually: - - reading buddies - virtual museum tours, like the ones [History.com](https://www.history.com/) highlights [here](https://www.history.com/news/10-best-virtual-museums-tours-history-from-home) - art lessons - science demonstrations and labs, such as those from [PhET Interactive Simulations](https://phet.colorado.edu/_m/) - Zoom breakout rooms (search #teachingwithzoom on Twitter for inspiration) - shared Google docs **Tip:** *Virtual learning can expose students to different and intriguing online resources.![exposed to online resources](https://blog.nise.institute/hubfs/blog%202.%20tip%203.jpg)*   ## Summary As you can see, there are three important questions to consider when transitioning learning from school to home: - Where will your students learn? - When will your students learn? - What will help keep them motivated? Taking the time to help students and families clearly define their responses to these questions will help your students succeed with virtual learning! ## Coming Soon Watch for more information in the [*Making Online Instruction Work – Now!*](https://blog.nise.institute/tag/making-online-instruction-work-now) series. Our next edition will focus on a variety of online tools available for helping students collect, organize, and share information. Topics: [distance learning](https://blog.nise.institute/tag/distance-learning), [Making Online Instruction Work - Now!](https://blog.nise.institute/tag/making-online-instruction-work-now), [virtual teaching](https://blog.nise.institute/tag/virtual-teaching) ### Subscribe Here! ### Recent Posts ### Posts by Tag - [Making Online Instruction Work - Now! 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(1)](https://blog.nise.institute/tag/m-ed) - [SNHU (1)](https://blog.nise.institute/tag/snhu) - [at-home (1)](https://blog.nise.institute/tag/at-home) - [graduate programs (1)](https://blog.nise.institute/tag/graduate-programs) - [nise (1)](https://blog.nise.institute/tag/nise) - [science (1)](https://blog.nise.institute/tag/science) - [video conferencing (1)](https://blog.nise.institute/tag/video-conferencing) [See all](https://blog.nise.institute/learningathome#) ![Scroll To Top](https://blog.nise.institute/hubfs/NISE_August2019%20Theme/img/icon-top.svg) Ready to Change Your World and Theirs? [ Get STEM Certified! ](http://webstore.nise.institute/) ![National Institute for STEM Education](https://blog.nise.institute/hubfs/NISE_August2019%20Theme/img/logo-nise.png "National Institute for STEM Education - logo") ## What NISE STEM Certified Teachers Are Saying The NISE campus certification experience has been extremely valuable to our district as we continue to grow our STEM program. ** Ian Frank, Assistant Superintendent, and Lindsay Windatt, Elementary Assistant Principal ** Cincinnati College Preparatory Academy The NCSE process has helped transform three of our campuses from a condition of STEM awareness to that of STEM excellence. ** Pam Walker, K-12 STEM Coordinator ** Douglas County School District, Georgia The NISE campus certification has given our schools a foundation to support STEM implementation. We appreciate the coaches making the sessions easy, stress free and interesting. We are following up with the STEM best practices throughout the schools and encourage our teachers to continue on the path that NISE has started us on. The NISE process is well thought out, easy to understand and with the guidance of our coach, an extremely pleasant experience. ** Cat Morgan, District Elementary STEAM Specialist ** Longview ISD, Texas The campus certification process has allowed our leadership team to identify areas of strength and refinement for our campus as we seek to develop future ready learners. We believe that aligning our instructional practices with the 15 STEM Teacher Actions will definitely help us to reach this vision for our students. ** Danielle Record, Principal ** Pink Elementary, Frisco ISD, Texas NCSE streamlined the development of STEM education sustainability and growth catered to our learning community. ** Phil Johnston, STEM Coordinator ** Central High School, Grand Junction, Colorado Working through the campus certification has been one of the most impacting experiences we have undergone as a STEAM Academy. It has provided our team a deeper understanding of STEM education, provided our teachers with specific teacher actions to help them attain higher student achievement, and helped create a culture of responsible thinking and teaching. ** Elsa Lambert, Principal ** Raul Garza STEAM Academy, San Benito ISD, Texas - About NISE - [Program Overview](https://nise.institute/program-overview.php) - [Philosophy & Design](https://nise.institute/philosophy-and-design.php) - [Research](https://nise.institute/resources/nise_stem_observation_protocol_teacher_actions_that_matter_wp.pdf) - Certification - [Micro Certification](https://nise.institute/micro-certification.php) - [Teacher Certification](https://nise.institute/teacher-certification.php) - [Campus Certification](https://nise.institute/campus-district-certification.php) - University Partnerships - [SNHU Graduate Programs](https://nise.institute/#university-partnerships) - [ACE Graduate Programs](https://nise.institute/#ace) - Resources - [News](https://nise.institute/news.php) - [Blog](https://blog.nise.institute/) [* * ](https://www.facebook.com/NISE.STEM/) [* * ](https://twitter.com/NISE_STEM) [* * ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-institute-for-stem-education) - Support: 800.531.0864 - Fax: 281.833.4510 - [support@nise.institute ](mailto:support@nise.institute) - [Terms and Conditions ](http://nise.institute/terms-and-conditions.php) - © 2019 [Accelerate Learning ](http://www.stemscopes.com/?__hstc=125739797.78144e289a43c1599a436f7c838581f7.1565929192840.1565929192840.1565933173864.2&__hssc=125739797.20.1565933173864&__hsfp=3899845357)