Connections Made!

In my blog titled Making the Connection, our blogical discussion was a peaceful one. We didn’t have much disagreement over the concern I posted about the challenges of making connections with students through online, rather than face-to-face, courses. But that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a meaningful conversation. Oh no, far from that!

Robin, ever the encouraging soul, believed that a teacher’s compassionate tone could convey caring online. Mindy suggested it would help to have synchronous online activities to foster a sense of connection. Beth reminded us there may be students who actually participate more readily in an online environment. Shannon shared the concern that, for some people, it is much more difficult to connect with person through a screen. Jenn added a reminder that non-visual learners will be challenged by online learning. 

It was Courtney who reminded us that the use of visuals, including video, can be a powerful connector. And Linda reinforced the idea that connections can be made, by reminding us how we already feel connected to those we have taken a course with previously. Mark R. made the provocative point that we may want to focus on helping students further themselves in a career, and that students will remember what they learned from the course, not the facilitator. The reminder that today’s students are very used to connecting through technology came from Julie. And, while Mark C. echoed that thought, he also shared a concern of how important the personal relationship can be to a student. 

At the same time, Tyler worried that children may even lose the ability to communicate face-to-face. Melissa has seen the importance of building relationships, and worried that the emphasis on testing is challenging our ability to develop relationships even in face-to-face classes. And Jami reminded us that although the connections may not be as deep, there is untold value in online education for students who are homebound or need alternatives. 

The depth of this discussion demonstrated the thoughtfulness and concern of educators when it comes to our students. We care. We want the best for them. These qualities, along with tech tools, some of which have yet to be invented, will shepherd us along in this journey to provide meaningful, high quality learning experiences online. We will find a way to make the connection.