The Johns Hopkins University Center for Educational Resources, multiple JHU teaching and learning centers, and the JHU Office of the Provost recently offered a mini-conference – Surviving to Thriving: Reflections From Teaching Online. This post provides a recap of the virtual conference.
Surviving to Thriving: Reflections from Teaching Online Conference Recap
This morning, many of my @ldlhomewood colleagues and I like @HopeMBurke, @EmHogan10, and @KarenMardock, are attending a half-day conference on online teaching. Since there are concurrent sessions, this thread is just my thoughts and highlights from the sessions I attended 🧵
— Dr. Smiti Nathan (@travellingarch) December 11, 2020
The 1st session I'm attending is led by @JohnsHopkinsSPH Dr. Elizabeth Stuart @Lizstuartdc on 'Engaging Students in the Virtual Environment'. Panelists: Dr. Carey Borkoski @TellMeThisPod, Dr. Elizabeth Colantuoni, Dr. Steven Marra, and Dr. Laura Quaynor @LauraQuaynor.
— Dr. Smiti Nathan (@travellingarch) December 11, 2020
The discussion kicked off with building community in online courses. I appreciate the panelists offering asynchronous and synchronous strategies they have employed (e.g., pre-course surveys, feedback opportunities, warm-ups, etc.).
— Dr. Smiti Nathan (@travellingarch) December 11, 2020
I should have put this first, but today's conference is put on by @JHU_CER https://t.co/XUgC0mLO3d
— Dr. Smiti Nathan (@travellingarch) December 11, 2020
The chat in our session is 🔥. I appreciate all the participants sharing their strategies, as well as one who reminded us we can save the chat in Zoom. pic.twitter.com/RJpkrzRrio
— Dr. Smiti Nathan (@travellingarch) December 11, 2020
The panelists are highlighting different tools:@TellMeThisPod: Padlet @padlet @LauraQuaynor: Loom @loom (for video messages and announcements) + Flipgrid @Flipgrid
— Dr. Smiti Nathan (@travellingarch) December 11, 2020
Elizabeth Colantuoni: Slack @SlackHQ (for discussions)
Steven Marra: @zoom_us + @Google Forms (keep it simple)
Next session: Jazzing Up Online Presentations
— Dr. Smiti Nathan (@travellingarch) December 11, 2020
Led by Dr. La Tonya Dyer @LaTonyaDyer and panelists include: Dr. Jaime Young @jyoungJHU, Donna Schnupp @dschnupp, and Dr. Ash Davison
@dschnupp is giving us a live presentation of options other than Powerpoint, such as @genially_en and @Panopto.
— Dr. Smiti Nathan (@travellingarch) December 11, 2020
Really appreciate @jyoungJHU walking us through his process of creating engaging presentations for a 600+ person Intro to @JHUChemistry lab section.
— Dr. Smiti Nathan (@travellingarch) December 11, 2020
Dr. Ash Davison is giving us an idea of simulation tools like @ehr_go and Pathfinder in CoursePlus.
— Dr. Smiti Nathan (@travellingarch) December 11, 2020
🤯as @jyoungJHU demos how he uses @OBSProject
— Dr. Smiti Nathan (@travellingarch) December 11, 2020
Check out his OBS tutorials (I definitely will):https://t.co/uehZDFTCuu pic.twitter.com/giS3gywOsj
Nice to know there are other @OBSProject users in my network like @KateBradfordSci as I peruse this technology #communitylearninghttps://t.co/SWWyWjg0Gr
— Dr. Smiti Nathan (@travellingarch) December 11, 2020
So happy that my colleague @TessaMcKenzie15 attended and took notes on this sessionhttps://t.co/E20JzNEehC
— Dr. Smiti Nathan (@travellingarch) December 11, 2020
Next up is 'Technology Lightning Talks'. I really appreciate how we can jump from breakout room to breakout room. pic.twitter.com/BdgXU47zBt
— Dr. Smiti Nathan (@travellingarch) December 11, 2020
In the @MicrosoftTeams session led by Margo Williams and Dr. Eileen Haase. The advantage of it is that it can be an all-in-one possible tech solution for a course.
— Dr. Smiti Nathan (@travellingarch) December 11, 2020
When you drop into the @gradescope session, but then realize you're teaching a pass/fail course… pic.twitter.com/rHWYt2PW2Y
— Dr. Smiti Nathan (@travellingarch) December 11, 2020
Very cool seeing the on-campus studio set up for faculty. Definitely getting ideas for iterating on my set-up. Thank you @nathanegraham for the overview and discussion!
— Dr. Smiti Nathan (@travellingarch) December 11, 2020
Appreciated Dr. Richard Shingles @JHU_CER and Dr. Rebecca Pearlman's @JHUArtsSciences succinct overview of @piazza. It was nice to see how to amp discussions on Blackboard, as well as filter through posts.
— Dr. Smiti Nathan (@travellingarch) December 11, 2020
Super pumped for the next session: 'Student Perspectives'
— Dr. Smiti Nathan (@travellingarch) December 11, 2020
Moderator: Kira Riehm @KERiehm
Panelists: Mafalda Santos, Maya Allaf, Linda Chyr @lindachyr, and Leela Gabo
Major themes re: virtual learning challenges from students:
— Dr. Smiti Nathan (@travellingarch) December 11, 2020
– Zoom fatigue (e.g., time zones, energy, turnout)
– staying engaged during didactic lectures
– missing in-person networking/connecting/collaborating experiences
Teaching techniques wish list from students:
— Dr. Smiti Nathan (@travellingarch) December 11, 2020
– use best practices/technology offered by the online distance learning team
– honor taking breaks
– building rapport at the beginning of each session (best for small class)
– longing for (focused) discussions vs. only lecture
Part of the best practice resource our @SAISHopkins student mentioned: https://t.co/aqpiH1kETo
— Dr. Smiti Nathan (@travellingarch) December 11, 2020
Positives of the virtual learning environment for students:
— Dr. Smiti Nathan (@travellingarch) December 11, 2020
– connect with students globally
– class in pajamas (yes!)
– revisiting course material due to recordings
– learning new skills
– appreciate educators😀
Advice for teaching online for the 1st time from students:
— Dr. Smiti Nathan (@travellingarch) December 11, 2020
– don't sweat #techfails
– try tech before 1st class
– seek expertise of online learning professionals
– breakout rooms
– OK to change things for the better at any point
– encourage engagement (not just turn on cameras)
Main themes of lingering thoughts of students:
— Dr. Smiti Nathan (@travellingarch) December 11, 2020
– the importance of building community and shared interests
– nice to do something else on Zoom besides staring into the screen –> I feel that @KERiehm
BTW, we started the day with opening remarks from our Provost Sunil Kumar. https://t.co/VAR2sHl8xj
— Dr. Smiti Nathan (@travellingarch) December 11, 2020
And now Executive Vice Provost @stephengange is giving us closing remarks.
— Dr. Smiti Nathan (@travellingarch) December 11, 2020
So impressed by all the parties who put on today's eventhttps://t.co/ynqdf5fPwW
— Dr. Smiti Nathan (@travellingarch) December 11, 2020
Thank you so much for today's event. The morning flew by and I'm excited to meet with my fellow @ldlhomewood instructors to debriefhttps://t.co/LEZVJxGDVB
— Dr. Smiti Nathan (@travellingarch) December 11, 2020
Here are some of my personal reflections, thoughts, and actions after this morning's conference:
— Dr. Smiti Nathan (@travellingarch) December 11, 2020
Online Instructional Technology: It's not Pokemon. You don't have catch/use them all. However, it's important to know what's out there. It's REALLY important to make intentional choices that work for your students, you, and the learning outcomes of the course.
— Dr. Smiti Nathan (@travellingarch) December 11, 2020
Online Teaching Mindset: For me and many others, leading with kindness and empathy is crucial. You can still have a rigorous and engaging course online. Creativity and flexibility also help too.
— Dr. Smiti Nathan (@travellingarch) December 11, 2020
Next Steps:
— Dr. Smiti Nathan (@travellingarch) December 11, 2020
1. Center engagement in course design
2. Intentionally select tech (and inform students ahead of time)
3. Plant the seeds for connections before the first class
