Online teaching challenges

Online teaching challenges

  • Can't observe students
  • Very limited board space
  • Discussions can be more difficult
  • Everything takes longer

There are constraints in real-time online lessons due to the online technologies.

Here are some of them:

  • variable internet connection quality
  • difficult to obtain feedback from students
  • difficult to provide feedback to students
  • difficult to observe student work
  • very limited board space
  • handwriting is difficult
  • conversations and discussions are difficult with more than about 4 people
  • limited to oral/aural and visual communication
  • everything takes more time online.

There are also differences in the number of senses that can be used. In a face-to-face class, lessons can involve all the senses – sight, sound, touch, kinaesthetic, and even taste and smell! Online, you are limited to visual and oral/aural communication.


Lessons that were effective in face-to-face classrooms may need to be adjusted in order to run effectively online.