Hi Heather and Candice,
I agree that "in person" classes are hard to beat. I have done a lot of synchronous zoom classes and meeting with students--I am running a research program all online this summer. Creating a sense of community is possible online as well as in person. Students are craving this sense of connection even if established through a computer screen.
I really don't believe in lecturing; as a cognitive psychologist it probably is one of the most ineffective ways to impart knowledge but I understand the necessity in some of our universities. Active student engagement is essential and making students pull their weight in the learning process (as opposed to passively engaging) is difficult but hugely beneficial for learning.
I plan to do flipped classes on line in the Fall. The thing about asynchronous lectures is that's it's so difficult to sense what students are getting from the material. Even with lectures, one can incorporate socratic questioning, 5 minute assessments like "what are 3 take home messages that you got from the lecture so far"--which can enable you to adjust the lecture if need be. An asynchronous lecture just doesn't give you that ability. HOWEVER, if you are teaching a 300 student lecture (not sure why we cling to this approach--even at the most expensive and prestigious universities) you may not have a choice.
I do understand how asynchronous curriculums can really work for students with life constraints; parents, full-time workers, etc. so that is a consideration we should all be aware of when designing online classes.
I would say, what you missed about in "in-person" classes, try to incorporate into your online classes. I feel keeping things as personal and engaging as possible can't hurt.
Our job as teachers is not easy--it is noble and will give our civilization sound foundation. I think we should all trust in our sense of what's right, will help our students feel connected during this time of disconnection and will benefit learning.
Good luck!!
Breckie
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Breckie (Ruth) Church
Professor
Northeastern Illinois University
Chicago IL
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Original Message:
Sent: 06-02-2020 12:28
From: Michelann Quimby
Subject: Thinking about fall semester teaching
As of right now, we are likely doing a blended approach. If we have in-person meetings, I'll make the Zoom meetings optional. If we are totally online, I'll require one Zoom class a week and hold one optional one. That's what I'm doing with my class that starts on Thursday (eep!) so I'll let you know if it actually works :)
My department is looking at investing in some home studio equipment. My first summer class got a grant to work with a studio in another college at the university, so I get to try out some nice toys. A good clip-on camera makes all the difference! The ring light doesn't suck either :)
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Heather Quimby
Dr.
University of Texas at Austin
AUSTIN TX
5127893063
Original Message:
Sent: 05-02-2020 11:55
From: Candice Mills
Subject: Thinking about fall semester teaching
Hello All,
I know it's too early to make plans for the fall semester. At the same time, though, many of us are hearing about the possibility that fall courses may be a mix of online and in-person (or completely online). And book reservations for the fall semester are due soon at many universities.
Do you have ideas on how you will handle a fall semester online or hybrid course?
I felt like this semester, we were encouraged to go asynchronous with our materials as much as possible (at least at my university). Based on a student survey of needs and technological access, I prepared most of my material so that students could review it on their own time, with an optional live lecture/discussion once a week that students could watch asynchronously if they could not attend. It was fine, but I absolutely missed the in-person class meetings.
My last class meeting was this past week, and we're moving into final exams, so what worked well and didn't work as well this semester is fresh in my mind. I've wondered what I might do differently if I knew in advance the whole semester would be online.
Thanks in advance for sharing your ideas,
Candice
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Candice Mills
The University of Texas at Dallas
Email: candice.mills@utdallas.edu
Web: www.utdallas.edu/thinklab
Twitter: @CandiceMMills
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