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What I started doing in my online lectures and what I encourage all teachers should start doing too:
During a Freshman Experience Seminar lecture one day, I was teaching my students study skills, the importance of dedication, and the importance of socializing. With this I mentioned how, through socializing, they could make study groups and help support each other. I went further to say that their classmates of today could be their colleagues of tomorrow, so it's imperative they maintain good social and professional relationships from now (In my lectures I always try to connect school with professional life). Then, by chance it had dawned on me in that moment that: These students have no way of socializing. This entire semester has been online (the college I work at has been online since about April of 2020) and they have never met each other and most of them are not living on campus. I then proceeded to take a moment to reflect.
I paused and I asked my students if they had any friends in this course and if this semester they were able to socialize (even if just online) with their classmates. They mostly all said they were not able to socialize and they did not know anyone in this course, outside of two or three students in a class of 30. I went further to ask them if, in their other courses, they were able to get to know their other classmates and they all responded 'no'. Sadness hit me and oddly a sense of failure and guilt. I felt as if I had failed my students. I was there, lecturing them on the importance of study groups, how their classmates today could be their colleagues of tomorrow, that socializing is important, that a personal life is necessary for mental health, and how to maintain social and professional relationships from now- and yet- I hadn't even thought about their situation. They were completely unable to meet their classmates and there was no platform for them to message each other privately.
That same class, I set aside the last five minutes for everyone to exchange contact information. I told them, if they wanted and if they felt comfortable, they could leave their name and email or preferred contact method in the chat box. The messages started pouring in and they all quickly exchanged contact information. I advised them that it's a good idea to set up a group chat or a group call once a week or once a month. I told them that not only can this help them to socialize in these lonely times and bring a sense of normalcy to their everyday lives, but, it can help them to stay on track with their courses too. Having a study group or a group of friends in a course is impactful. I personally still have friends from college. These friends are priceless for me. Students attending school virtually deserve the same memories and chance at academic support groups as we had before this pandemic. I urge all educators, from all grade levels, to please think about this for a moment. Give your students a chance (maybe even a nudge) to socialize with each one another.
Do you encourage socialization in your online classes? If so, how? Let me know in the comments or on Instagram!
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