The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly affected the social aspects of education, but a Canadian teacher makes online learning fun and documents everything for TikTok.
Dave Poirier, grades 9 and 11 geography teacher at DSBN Academic in Niagara, started posting his crazy class introductions on the app two weeks ago.
He’s had great feedback from his students on these stunts, and everyone else who watches TikTok seems to love them too.
“We’re used to having kids late for these online meetings, but now most of my kids will show up early and just foresee what’s going to happen. They’re just excited and it was really good,” Poirier said during an interview with Daily Hive.
His TikTok videos on @teachpoirier start in “ridiculous ways” (his words, not ours) and end with him screaming “happy” [insert day of the week]. ”
@teachpoirierDay 3🕺🏻 Let’s #MakeOnlineLearningFun teachers # Teachersoftiktok #teacher #teachertiktok #teachertok #foryou #onlineclass #school #happy # Tuesday ♬ Original sound – Teachpoirier
Poirier said he was inspired to start these videos because it can be difficult to get excited about an online school.
@teachpoirierDay 7 🥷 Let’s ## MakeLearningFun 👨🏻🏫 ## Teachersoftiktok ## Lehrer ## Teachertiktok ## Teachertok ## foryou ## Schule ## happy ## Tuesday ♬ Original sound – Teachpoirier
“My strengths are definitely in the classroom. Some of it was pumping myself up and at the same time I know how hard it is for my kids to figure out their motivation and I like to find some fun and happiness right now, ”he said.
“I wanted to give them a reason to look forward to coming to class and having some fun.”
@teachpoirierReply to @ cocotang2021 This has to work in ## high school. Our teenagers have to laugh too. «## Teachersoftiktok ## Teacher ## Teachertiktok ♬ Original sound – Teachpoirier
Poirier said what we see in his TikTok videos has been a successful teaching method for his students, although many thought it would not be as appealing to them their age.
“Elementary school teachers had the ability to be this more playful guy. But I think our students really need it because the pandemic was very severe and it’s nice to have something that just makes you laugh, ”said Poirier.
@teachpoirierDay 6💪 Let’s ## MakeLearningFun 👨🏻🏫💻 ## Teachersoftiktok ## Lehrer ## Teachertiktok ## Teachertok ## foryou ## Online class ## School ## happy ## Monday @wwe ## wwe ♬ original sound – Teachpoirier @teachpoirierOnline learning was hard and boring. I started a mission to ## MakeOnlineLearningFun. That’s how I started class today. ## Teachersoftiktok ♬ original sound – Teachpoirier
Aside from the TikTok videos, Poirier has tried to make his online courses as interactive as possible.
“We did virtual excursions where they were in front of the camera and I just show up. There’s a canal in the city and I took them there. You signed up and I’m close to all of these big boats. It was a lot of fun, ”he said.
He hopes his classroom will continue to be fun even after the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I want to keep making my classroom something a child will really enjoy being in, even after I’m no longer teaching online.”
Comments are closed.