Student Partners’ Recommendations Regarding Remote Teaching and Learning, by Alison Cook-Sather (Director, Teaching and Learning Institute, Bryn Mawr and Haverford Colleges) and Nicole Litvitskiy (Student Partner).
These recommendations were gathered from pedagogical partnership program directors and student partners who worked with faculty members at nine different institutions through the shift to online teaching and learning in Spring-2020. These institutions include Bryn Mawr College, Florida Gulf Coast University, Haverford College, Reed College, Smith College, Tufts University, University of Denver, Ursinus College, and Vassar College.
Start with and Sustain the Human
“Be intentional about checking in with your students not only on their academics, but their well-being and stability of where they are living/staying as well. Show genuine care and understanding, and ask students how you can best be a support to them during the period of online learning.” -Student Partner, Bryn Mawr College
Resources and strategies:
• Consult resources compiled by Mays Imad on trauma-informed teaching.
•Begin with a questionnaire or survey that invites students to share what they are comfortable sharing about their living/studying situation, their state of mind/mental health, their access to technology and resources.
•If students are living in different places and time zones, consider how to make course meetings and activities accessible and flexible (more on this below). For example, create a space for asynchronous participation so that students in different time zones/with at-home responsibilities can participate equitably.
•Recognize that different students will be experiencing these times in different ways, acknowledge that, and provide the support and guidance you can throughout the semester.