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Academics: it's a struggle for both us & our students to teach & learn via zoom etc. Please let's make it easier for students. This is what I tell students I haven't taught yet:
"As an Autistic person, I understand that online meetings can be difficult for many people 1/?
"As an Autistic person, I understand that online meetings can be difficult for many people 1/?
2/? As such, how you use the meeting space can vary. Some people are happy to use both video & audio during chats. Some may prefer to just use audio, others may just like to use the chat function. Please let me know any requirements you may have."
3/? Yes, it is difficult for us to teach to boxes on a screen, but we need to interrogate why we struggle with this & insist students turn their cameras on etc. Is it because you need validation that you are being listened to? Understood? Are you worried/angry the students may..
4/? ...not even be there once they login? That your efforts are going unappreciated? Are these good enough reasons to demand students turn their cameras on, use their mics etc?
5/?...I was surprised when a typically vocal, engaged student offline was very quiet & didn't use their camera when online. I realised later he was having to use his child's bedroom to come to class, & his children were interrupting him constantly. He was doing his best in these
5/... circumstances, & I never demanded he turn his camera or mic on. We do not have the right to demand to be in our students homes. If a student turns up they are participating, we need to adjust what participation means. I know from running Autistic groups that engagement &
6/...participation can mean a student who is a black box with a name on screen, & I am confident in my abilities to know that I am doing a good job without more than that. We cannot expect the same experience online as offline, it's not feasible for either party. Find other ways
7/ to test student understanding, e.g. I make short online tests via http://B.socrative.com . Have someone in charge of the chat box & make it OK to receive private responses. Demanding cameras & mics you may fall foul of inclusivity & disability regulations at your institution
8/ I struggle as an Autistic academic to teach in this new way, it brings new challenges, so I am aware of the possible difficulties for my students.
Please be kind to yourself & others in this distressing time. Thank you for reading
Please be kind to yourself & others in this distressing time. Thank you for reading
