{"id":11264,"date":"2021-08-16T07:07:00","date_gmt":"2021-08-16T07:07:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bbb-feb.bigbluebutton.org\/?p=11264"},"modified":"2023-08-28T22:50:47","modified_gmt":"2023-08-28T22:50:47","slug":"managing-emotions-in-the-online-classroom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bigbluebutton.org\/articles\/managing-emotions-in-the-online-classroom\/","title":{"rendered":"Managing Emotions in the Online Classroom"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Managing Emotions in the Online Classroom \n<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Emotions can have a particularly strong influence on the atmosphere in a classroom. This usually concerns the pupils’ emotions, but at times, you, as a teacher, may also find it difficult to cope with your feelings. We have collected some tips for recognizing excitement, irritation, happiness, anger, fear, or sadness in your class and how to turn it all into positive behaviour. Some of the BigBlueButton features are perfect for assisting you with this task.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Personal emotions Are Not Bad <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Whether emotions are positive or negative, they are always necessary and useful. Especially negative feelings have a strong signalling capability, demonstrating that something is wrong. If you see that someone is struggling with negative feelings, or discern inner conflict within yourself, do not avoid or ignore this but consider it a source of information. In fact, emotion can be the first step towards a solution. If you feel confident that you can examine the problem in depth, do so. Otherwise, consider reaching out to a trusted professional who can help you.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Set the Tone for the Entire School Year \n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Make it a priority to<\/span> set your status<\/span><\/a> (emoji) at the start of your course and for each session (class). Secondly, teach the students in your online classroom how to do so as well. Repeat the process as many times as is necessary until it becomes automatic for everyone, and encourage this behaviour throughout the online class. BigBlueButton provides a wide choice of statuses (happy, undecided, confused, and sad). These tiny symbols in the User icon immediately give you a first impression of what your students are feeling, individually or collectively. With emojis, you can start your class with \u201cHow is everyone feeling?\u201d and can see all the emojis change in real-time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Another way to gather feedback is to use polling. In the latest version of BigBlueButton, you can use the new <\/span>User Response<\/span><\/a> option to let students write in their feelings. Only you will see their responses (simply don\u2019t publish the poll results). A bit of prompting and engagement lets students know you care and are aware of their emotions.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Also, take time to listen to the pupils’ stories, chat and understand any questions they might have. This time to connect is even more important if it seems that something is bothering them because, if this is the case, they are not ready to absorb any new learning material.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Get to Work with Emotions \n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Students who get the message that emotions are never wrong and that they are allowed to express themselves grow up to be more assertive adults with a good self-image and more self-confidence. Talking about feelings together has a bonding effect. Emotion and emotions can be the subject of several lessons in your course schedule.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>