What I found interesting in this paper (17 page PDF) was the balance required to, on the one hand, encourage "authentic human connections in both physical and digital teaching environments," and on the other hand, respective "diverse modes of engagement, recognition of different learning capacities and preferences, and accommodation of various life circumstances." It can be tricky. Many cultural traditions, both online and offline, favour conformity (I'm think especially of Reddit here, where a voting system punishes unpopular opinions). "As one staff member noted, 'belonging does not require uniform participation.'" It takes a careful hand, negotiation around existing hierarchies, and a fostering of a "live and let live" attitude. Bonnie Stewart writes, "UHI campuses were described as 'surprisingly accepting of diversity despite the region being rural and relatively homogeneous demographically.'" So while "breakout rooms was emphasized as an important humanizing practice across disciplines and content," it is important that "instructors also recognized student agency, with one noting they offer breakout opportunities while recognizing 'some students may not want to build those ties as much as others.'"
Today: Total: [Direct link] [Share]
