Going For a Drive

A response to the Misunderstood Activity
created by Stephanie Ferguson (@stpark)

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When working with faculty on remote teaching course development, a common misconception has been that you can’t make the same meaningful connections with students online that you can in traditional face-to-face classrooms. Instructors feel the lack of in-person contact justifies this misconception. However, it’s often because in-person is the only way they are used to connecting with students. 

Connecting with people online is like going for a drive- there are so many different routes to the same destination! People tend to take the more familiar route that is comfortable and where they know what to expect – even though there might be better routes to take. Choosing routes you’ve never traveled before can be scary because you might not know where you’re going or what to expect. There could be potholes. It could take you longer. You could even get a little lost. But it also might be better! It might be a richer experience. You might have more fun. You might wonder why you have never tried that route before. You might even realize your traditional route wasn’t that great after all. Focus on the journey.

Remember that you’re not alone on this road trip. Students should be active participants. However, you can help prevent your passengers from falling asleep by not driving the same route every day. Don’t forget to ask for their input in planning the route and for their feedback along the way (except when it comes to the music. Everyone knows the driver controls the playlist!). You might even consider giving them a turn at the wheel.

“Sometimes the most scenic roads in life are the detours you didn’t mean to take.” ~ Angela N. Blount.

https://pixabay.com/photos/volkswagen-adventure-travel-vw-569315/