Thriving in the Online Classroom
By: Maryam I.
Tags: Teaching, Online, Students, Learning, Education

Teaching online can be daunting. Here are some tips to help both you and your students thrive in the virtual classroom.

Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash @element5digital

Education is much more than the passing of information from teacher to students; education involves complex discourse between teachers and students, as well as between the students themselves. Questions and conversations foster learning and drive curiosity, making connecting with others an essential component of education.

However, the online classroom limits the ability of teachers and students to connect and communicate, as interaction is limited to what is present on screens. This often makes students feel like they are alone, as the sense of community and camaraderie cultivated in an in-person classroom is lost. Fortunately, as emphasized by Renee E. Weiss in “Humanizing the Online Classroom”, it is still possible to allow meaningful connections between students and teachers to flourish, despite the physical distance. This requires the teacher to plan ahead in order to establish a sense of community and collaboration among the students, as well as between the students and teacher. At the same time, it necessitates the cooperation and commitment of students to their learning as well, as any relationship, professional or otherwise, requires the commitment of both parties.

In order to truly connect with students, teachers must also keep in mind the reason that everything has been moved online: a global pandemic.

The pandemic impacts students in differing ways, states Cathy Davidson in her article, “The Single Most Essential Requirement in Designing a Fall Online Course.” She reminds educators that students may be afraid for the health of their loved ones and themselves, may have limited access to resources, and may be financially compromised, among a plethora of other possible issues.

This means that students are in a stressful place, which impedes their ability to learn effectively. As author Nir Eyal reveals in his book, Indistractable, internal triggers — those that arise from our own minds and emotional states — are just as distracting as external distractions. By keeping in mind that students are dealing with a flurry of stressful emotions during the pandemic, educators can teach from a place of empathy and understanding.

“Students don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” — John C. Maxwell

If educators prioritize building camaraderie and community in the online classroom, they can also reduce the likelihood of students cheating or compromising their academic integrity in any other way, states Weiss. If students feel accountable to each other as well as to their teacher, they are far less likely to engage in academic dishonesty. However, if students’ sense of accountability is lacking, states Weiss, then they may feel isolated and alone in their education. This may make some students more inclined to cheat, so by building that sense of mutual respect and understanding between students and the teacher, there is a lower likelihood of any compromises of academic integrity.

While the task of creating this online intellectual community may sound daunting, it is one of those things that are actually easier done than said. For example, teachers may consider adapting courses to allow for more in-class engagement and interaction. Davidson emphasizes that, in troubling times, people benefit from a sense of empowerment, from feeling that they are capable and in control of some areas of life. Education is the perfect area to establish that sense of agency, she highlights. She suggests incorporating hands-on activities to cultivate learning, and making material more relevant by connecting the curriculum with the current state of the world. This will help students feel like their education really does matter, and that it matters here and now.

“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” — Benjamin Franklin

We are all in a place of uncertainty. We are all facing varying levels of stress. But teachers still have that unique position of being able to shape the minds of their students, to truly make an impact that will endure for the rest of their lives. So let’s make it count.