Inclusive Online Teaching
It can be difficult to create an inclusive community online. Moore's Theory of Transactional Distance(1997) helps us understand that with the physical distance that comes with online learning, there is also "a psychological and communications space to be crossed, a space of potential misunderstanding between the inputs of instructor and those of the learner."
Here are a few things to consider as you work toward bridging the distance to creating a meaningful, inclusive online learning experience for all of your students.
Consider Potential Access Issues
Remember that not every student has equal access to technology or the internet, nor do they always have a quiet place to take an online class.
Think about where you can build in flexibility; can students watch recorded lectures at a different time? Can they access course content on a cell phone? Can you provide resources in alternative formats (video lectures as audio clips? Infographs as screenreadable pdfs?) Can your students attend remote lectures with their videos off?
Check in with your students before class begins about their access to technology (you can even do this anonymously.)
Check all your course links, and provide instructions about how to use technology--there can be a learning curve for everyone.
Build Online Community
We want to make sure that students feel like they belong in online spaces as much as in spaces on campus.
As we've done in the IPA, create a shared list of ground rules or understandings for what it means to productively and respectfully engage in course discussions.
Use introduction boards, icebreakers, small groups, or even backchannel chat opportunities like discord, slack, or teams to give students an opportunity to get to know each other as people and show their interests and personalities.
Find a way that feels authentic to you for students to get to know you; what are you enthusiastic about in your field? What is something you value in your own culture? Maybe you show your dog on camera, or include a photo of you in a place you love to travel to.
Monitor and update the course frequently; find ways to show your presence in the course. You can have video or audio introductions for each new week or unit, announcements about upcoming deadlines, or you can share timely events that relate to your course.
Emphasize Clarity and Consistency
Being clear and consistent is important regardless of modality, but it's even more important in an online setting in which students have to be more self-regulated.
Be intentional with the design of your online course space; Use labels, and try to create a cadence of when students are expected to read, engage, and submit assignments. This allows students to focus more on the course content and not be weighed down by the stress of wayfinding.
Students may engage with your online course in ways you don't intend or expect, so consider repeating the important dates and reminders in different places.
Provide examples or rephrase instructions whenever you can; we tend to do this naturally when we explain things in person, but written words are often up for interpretation when they do not have the benefit of follow up questions, tone, or nonverbal communication
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