Virtual Instruction
W&L prides itself on the quality of its faculty-student interactions. Very often, that means face-to-face interactions. Unfortunately, the present moment requires us to adapt to a variety of different modes of instruction. This page provides a variety of resources for faculty in all fields.
General Resources
There are thousands of excellent resources out there about virtual/blended/flexed instruction. Here are a few that we found particularly useful.
Trauma-Based Pedagogies
Instruction in the time of COVID means we’re working with students whose capacity for learning is under assault. Trauma-based pedagogies attempt to respond to the challenges our students face.
Inclusivity
Inclusion isn’t just an option in our teaching: it’s how we ensure that every W&L student leaves with a profound sense of their ability to move into the world as agents of positive change.
Designing Our Courses
How do you put together a course in a virtual or “blended” setting—where some students might be in class and others might be online?
Community Building and Communication
Building a strong sense of community in a virtual or flexed classroom isn’t impossible. It just requires deliberate action on the part of the instructor—and constant attention over the course of the semester.
Leading Effective Discussions
Creating Effective Videos
Grading & Exams
STEM
Courses in the STEM fields often present their own challenges for virtual instruction. Here are some sites that might get you thinking about practical and powerful ways to ensure student learning.
Fine Arts, Studio Arts, and Performing Arts
There are no perfect answers for taking hands-on and experiential courses into a virtual environment, but these sites at least offer a starting place to prompt our approach and our thinking.
World Languages
Teaching languages in a virtual setting can be challenging. Fortunately, the following sites provide lots of ideas and tips. (Many thanks to Dick Kuettner for providing these resources!)
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