Strategies to Stretch More Able Learners in Online Lessons

December 15, 2020

You’ve probably spent a lot of time looking at ways to support struggling learners in your online classes. But what about the ones that need challenging and stretching? It’s easy to fall into a one-size-fits-all approach that doesn’t cater for their needs.

Even if your online classes are set into ability groups, you still need to differentiate. High-achieving students need just as much support as those working below academic expectations.

We’ve thought of a range of strategies you can use when teaching online to ensure those able students get the challenge they need in every lesson.

Problems more able learners face in online lessons

It’s difficult to pick up the subtle (and not so subtle) clues showing that your class are stuck, confused, or ready to move on to something new in online lessons. You work to keep every student focused. It’s even more difficult to find students who are coasting along or disengaged because they can already do what the rest of the class is learning.

In lots of schools, lesson pace slows whilst students and staff acclimatise to online classes. You might repeat things they already know to find and fill gaps in learning. That’s frustrating for more able students who are working at a higher level.

Often, we assume that able and higher achieving students are unaffected by digital poverty. But there are likely to be students in your school who lack access to the technology they need to engage with the amazing activities, resources, and live lessons you’re offering.

Who are the more able students in your class?

Before you plan for the needs of higher-achieving students, are you sure you know who they are? Look at the ways you monitor and assess progress in assessments and during lessons. How can you tell if a student is capable of more?

You also teach students who have the potential to achieve highly but are not currently doing so. Does the way you assess progress allow you to spot these students and plan ways to meet their needs?

Analyse the data you have and improve it so you can spot students coasting, find potential for acceleration, and see where more able students could go further. That lets you target the provision you offer them.

Smiling student in class 1

Strategies you can use with your online class

So, what can you do to support these more able learners once you’ve found them? We’ve got five strategies you can use to better identify and support these students.

1: Planning activities for able students

Instead of blanket worksheets for the entire class to do, add developmental challenge into the resources you use. We’re all guilty of sometimes giving early finishers more of the same work to do whilst the others catch up. Instead, look for enrichment opportunities for them to take their learning further and deeper, applying it to different problems and contexts.

That doesn’t mean you always need a lot of different activities for every ability group. Everyone can complete tasks that are ‘low threshold-high ceiling’. These activities are simple to access but are open-ended to offer rich opportunities for students to take the learning further. Use scaffolding and questioning to structure the cognitive challenge and encourage them to work at a higher level.

You probably have a selection of go-to resources, websites, and activities you rely on. Perhaps you have a subscription to download ready-made resources? Thinking about cognitive challenge doesn’t mean throwing those resources away and starting again. You can easily adapt many of them. A Wacom pen tablet is perfect for this, letting you edit, highlight, and draw directly onto PowerPoints, Word documents, and PDFs with no need to waste time retyping.

2: Developing language and communication

High-achieving students often struggle to communicate their ideas clearly. They know what they’re thinking and can often present the correct answer but find it difficult to verbalise their thinking process. You need them to describe, define, explain, and evaluate their ideas.

Think of vocabulary in three different tiers.

  • Tier 1: Everyday language we use when talking
  • Tier 2: Words heavily used in written text but far less common in speech
  • Tier 3: Subject specific academic vocabulary

You know the subject specific vocabulary your students need to learn in a lesson. For example, in a science class you might expect them to use language like osmosis, photosynthesis, and cytoplasm. Plan systematic ways to teach, revise, and apply this vocabulary in online lessons. Insist that students use correct terminology and encourage them to repeat a sentence using the target vocabulary you want to see.

To be excellent communicators, your highly achieving students also need to develop their understanding and use of tier two vocabulary. Listen when your students share their thoughts to understand their conceptualisations and descriptive skills. 

To develop their responses and teach them how to formulate ideas clearly, analyse their written and verbal answers. Use screen sharing to display a student’s work and edit it collaboratively to improve clarity. A pen tablet is perfect for doing this during live lessons. Move them from concrete and specific examples to abstract thinking.

3: Questioning

Good questioning is nothing new. Plan the questions you will ask specific students during the lesson that will take them to a deeper level of understanding. Use open-ended questioning wherever possible to let them expand on their ideas and practice using tier two vocabulary.

Avoid teacher led ‘basketball questioning’ where you ask students questions and they reply just to you. Create a dialogue between students instead. Record the key points of discussion and display them on the screen visually. These make a great resource to save and send out as a revision tool at the end of a lesson.

4: Student participation

Create a culture of aspiration in your class. How can you encourage your students to look beyond simply finishing tasks? Giving learning a purpose and including their interests will improve their overall engagement in all lessons. Look for ways to offer choice of task and plan longer research projects they can complete independently.

Get your students involved in planning and evaluating lessons. Encourage metacognitive strategies where they learn about the process of learning. Can they reflect and analyse where they are, the progress they’ve made, and next steps?

5: Organising learning opportunities

Every school organises learners in different ways. You may teach in a fully mixed ability class. Perhaps your students are in ability streams for some or all of their lessons? However your online classes are arranged, you’re still likely to have wide variation in abilities.

Blended and online learning gives you an opportunity to do something different and not just replicate the same classroom experience.

Why not try:

  • Teaching students into smaller groups in short, highly focused live lessons
  • Splitting the class into groups rotating between live and asynchronous classes
  • Selecting microlearning tasks and signposting the choices for different students to complete independently

Grouping students by task allows them to work at a level suited to them whilst keeping everyone focused on achieving same learning objectives. Students could self-select the activity most appropriate to them to prevent you putting a ceiling on their abilities with fixed groupings.

Final thoughts

High-achieving students deserve a tailored curriculum that meets their needs, just like every other student you teach. Don’t forget them whilst you’re getting confident with technology and spotting gaps and misconceptions when teaching online.

Also, think about your academically able disadvantaged students. Don’t assume higher ability always means affluent. Carefully choose ways to support their particular needs, for example running small study groups and coaching opportunities rather than inviting them to a general homework club.

With the right support carefully planned into your online lessons, these cognitively able students will have the opportunities to stretch themselves, stay engaged with their learning, and achieve their full potential.

Learn more about promotions and Wacom Deals here: https://estore.wacom.com/de-DE/

Related posts:

Connect with Wacom on social media

Need a bigger digital canvas?⁣ Wacom Cintiq Pro 24 gives you something priceless: space. ⁣ So much, in fact, that you won't waste time searching for that reference image or opening and closing different programs on a secondary screen.⁣ Now on sale at the Wacom estore. 🏷️⁣ #WacomSale #WacomCintiq #WacomCintiqPro ⁣
96 2
How to draw lips with @lplucas 👄💋🤭😆 Do you have any cool tips for achieving amazing lips? #drawingtips #madewithwacom #digitalart #artistlife
1561 15
Take control of your creative work. With Wacom Yuify, securing your art is effortless. Track, manage, and protect your artwork with just a few clicks. Don't let your work go uncredited! ❗❗❗ Safeguard your creativity registering for free here at yuify.com   #WacomYuify #CreativeRights #digitalrightsmanagement
107 0
🌍📸 What was the last adventure you went on? ✈️  Do you capture the magic of your travels through photos? 🏞️ Photo editing is not only a fun way to relive those unforgettable moments but also an awesome opportunity to level up your tablet skills! 💡 Grab your Wacom tablet and bring those shots to life with your unique touch! ✨ What photo are you working on right now? #PhotoEditing #WacomTablet #TravelPhotography #WacomIntuos
195 2
Curious about what it's like to design textile patterns for iconic brands like Lucky Brand and Free People? We asked Los Angeles-based illustrator and makeup artist Julia Hill to give us an inside look at her creative journey, from her roots as an illustrator to her exciting transition into the world of pattern design. @juliahillart 🌸🌼❇️🪷 #madewithwacom #digitalart #patterndesign #artistlife #creativeprofessionals
298 49
Maximize your creative flow with the Wacom One Stand 👊⁣ Whether you're using your Wacom One 12 or your Wacom One 13 Touch, this foldable, portable and moveable stand will keep your screen nice and steady. ⁣ Find the perfect angle for your posture with the Wacom One stand.⁣ ⁣ Curious about other accessories to make Wacom One your own?⁣ Head to Wacom.com to learn about mix and matching colorful pen cases, rear covers, carry cases, drawing gloves and more. ⁣ Thank you @henriquefriedrichs for the cool demo of the stand!⁣ #WacomOne #WacomPen #DigitalArt #DrawingTablet #WacomTablet ⁣
1130 32
Wacom One 13 Touch is on sale!⁣ ⁣ Get the smoothest, most precise and responsive drawing experience of your life with Wacom One 13 touch. ⁣ ⁣ Perfect for sketching, painting, animating, planning, and editing without any roadblocks. ⁣ ⁣ Plus, it’s packed with creative software like Clip Studio Paint, Affinity, Magma and more! 🎨🔥⁣ ⁣ Shop through the link in our bio!⁣ ⁣ #WacomSale #WacomOne #WacomTablet
142 0
The new Wacom Intuos Pro was redesigned from the inside out, with Wacom’s most advanced pen tablet technology.⁣ ⁣ Built with 40+ years of innovation, the #WacomProPen 3 is fully customizable. Choose from various grips, button configurations, nibs, and adjustable weight for a setup that fits your exact needs.⁣ ⁣ Learn more through the link in our bio!⁣ ⁣ #WacomIntuosPro #IntuosPro #PenTablet #WacomTablet
355 15
Every artist has their own creative ritual, whether it’s the perfect cup of tea, a morning walk to clear the mind, or that burst of inspiration that hits at just the right moment. 🫖🕯️🎧 Maybe it's lighting the perfect candle to set the mood, or sketching out ideas on an old notebook. Whatever it is, these little essentials set the stage for our best work. For me, it's all about my Wacom tablet. Wacom has teamed up with my club, @wearethedesignkids, to make sure students have the right tools from day one. With the right gear in hand, we can build our own creative rituals and refine our craft. So, what’s a must-have in your creative ritual? Maybe a special sketchbook, a cozy corner, or the perfect playlist? #WacomPartner #WacomForEducation #digitalart #inspiration #wacomintuos
254 33
Built to shine, new or not. ✨💎📦⁣ Give a Wacom device a second life and unlock the opportunity to upgrade, expand, or enhance your digital workflow.⁣ Check out #WacomRefurbished deals available in the US & Canada through the link in our bio or visit the Wacom estore. ⁣ #WacomSale
169 7
Some people wanna stand in your light. 👎 Lucas wants to teach you how to draw light. 💡☀️😁 Thank you @lplucas and @clipstudioofficial for making it so easy! #madewithwacom #WacomTips #wacommovink
2163 14
Let’s get to work! 💥 Setting up your Movink is a breeze. Just plug in and start creating with ease and comfort! ✍️ What’s on your creative agenda today? Drop a comment and share with us! #WacomMovink #CreativesOnTheGo #CreativeProfessionals
475 8
This error message is only visible to WordPress admins
Error: There is no connected business account for the user .