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How do I set up a remote learning environment?

This article walks you through preparing a remote or hybrid learning environment that supports digital portfolios in SpacesEDU. We've broken it into three steps: setting up the environment, setting expectations, and considering all learners.

Step 1: Create Your Learning Environment

Set up the technology

Ensure each student has access to a device and internet connection. Encourage students to designate a quiet workspace at home, separate from distractions.
A helpful framework for younger students:

School zone: a quiet place with school supplies and their device
Fun zone: a separate area for breaks and play

💡 Tip: Remind students to take breaks. Consider sending a message once or twice a day prompting them to get up and stretch.

Build a routine
Consistency is essential in remote learning. A simple daily structure might look like:

Time of day	Activity
Morning	Students respond to a Teacher Post prompt
Mid-morning	Teacher sends a check-in message
Afternoon	Teacher provides feedback on student work

Consider having students set daily or weekly goals at the start of each period, then reflect on their progress at the end.

💡 Tip: Provide frequent feedback. In SpacesEDU, you can comment directly on student posts and students receive a notification when feedback is available.

Set up peer collaboration

Create opportunities for students to give each other feedback, even remotely. To get started:

Create a Teacher Post with a peer feedback rubric
Share examples of constructive, encouraging comments
Schedule a peer feedback session (live or asynchronous)

💡 Tip: Post a short video walking students through the peer review process. See The Educator's Guide to Making Great Videos for help.

Step 2: Set Classroom Expectations

Remote learners need clear expectations so they don't feel isolated or uncertain. Share the following with your students early on:

Assignment expectations:

How often will new activities be assigned?
When are submissions expected?
How many activities per day or week?

Communication expectations:

How should students ask questions?
What hours are you available to respond?
How quickly should they expect a reply?

Feedback expectations:

How often will you provide feedback?
What form will feedback take (written, video, audio)?
How will you celebrate wins as a class?

Routine expectations:

What does a daily or weekly check-in look like?
What is the format (post, video call, message)?

💡 Tip: Make sure your expectations are sustainable for you too. Overcommitting to response times or feedback frequency leads to burnout.

Step 3: Consider All Learners

Spark creativity

Let students choose how they share their learning. SpacesEDU supports photos, videos, audio recordings, files, and text. When students pick their own medium, they communicate their ideas better and feel more ownership over the process.

Provide instructions in multiple formats

Since students can't immediately ask questions in person, make activity instructions clear and accessible. When creating a Teacher Post, consider including:

Written instructions (text)
A short video walkthrough
An audio recording for students who prefer listening

Be visible

In a remote environment, students need to feel your presence. Ways to stay visible:

Post video or audio feedback on student work
Send regular check-in messages
Schedule live video sessions for group or class check-ins

💡 Tip: Even a short daily video message helps students feel connected and supported.

Good to Know

You can update Space Settings at any time to control what students see and do. See How can I update Space Settings?
Teacher Posts support text, video, audio, and file attachments, making it easy to model expectations.
Peer feedback works best when you teach it explicitly before enabling it in your class.

Now comes the fun part!

It’s time for you to schedule a date to introduce students to portfolios. Read on in the Getting Started section of our Help Center for tips on how to succeed.

Updated on: 23/07/2026

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