There have been many posts by countless educators, parents, and students regarding the transition to online classes that many of us have been forced into this year. And everyone has their opinions on what works and what doesn’t work. Of course, the truth is there is no right answer. There is no easy solution. We just have to do the best we can and adjust as we go (although from an educator standpoint, not having funding cut would REALLY help with this).
I’m not going to write about whether our online teaching works or doesn’t work. I think that, just like with all things, for some people it is helpful and easier to be productive, while for others it is quite difficult. Most of us fall somewhere in the middle.
Today I’m going to talk about my perspective of Zoom (or your video conferencing program of choice) and how much harder it is to get to know my students. When I am in the class, face to face with my students, I can read their expressions. I can gauge their reactions to the material. I know when I should elaborate on something or when it’s time to move on. But on Zoom that becomes so much more difficult. I can’t see my students’ reactions. Heck, most of the time I don’t even know what they look like. So many of them are just names on black screens. Some put up a picture so I can have an idea of who they might be, and the rare one to five students may turn their cameras on. I don’t know how they’re reacting. Sometimes I don’t even know if they’re there!
Now I get it. There are many reasons to have your camera off, and I’ve dealt with it a bit myself as well. Sometimes the internet is not working well enough, and shutting off the video gives you the extra bandwidth you need to stay engaged in the discussion. Other times you may have people coming in and out of the room and into view of the camera and you’re respecting their privacy. Or maybe you just don’t want people to see your home space. All of these are justifiable reasons. I get them. I really do. And I respect them. But it doesn’t make it any less frustrating. I don’t KNOW my students the way I have known them in the past. I struggle to connect with them. And I miss being around them.
So I guess my thing is, if you are one of those students who has a justifiable reason to keep your camera off, I get it. Just show your teachers and professors that you are engaged in other ways. Let us know when you need something clarified. Write us emails about your thoughts on particular readings/lessons/assignments. Help us help you when we don’t have the same tools we have had in the past. Be patient with us. We are learning this new world too.
