Humanizing Pre-Course Contact

with a Liquid Syllabus

Description

Humanized online teaching practices support the non-cognitive or affective dimensions of student learning. Many students who enroll in online courses, particularly those from minoritized backgrounds, do not successfully log in and complete the first week successfully. Weeks 0-1 comprise a high opportunity zone for increasing the percentage of students who succeed online.

In this session, Fabiola and Michelle will share examples of humanized practices from their online courses that use Google Sites to create a Liquid Syllabus and a Welcome Package for students. Sent before day one, (or embedded in online campus directories) students tap the link and are instantly taken to an accessible webpage that renders beautifully on their phone. By embedding a brief video of yourself at the top of the page, your students will be greeted by your warm, smiling face and feel supported to log-in and be successful in week one.

Speakers

Fabiola Torres

Fabiola Torres @iLearnNow is an ethnic studies faculty at Glendale Community College and facilitates the @ONE courses, Equity and Culturally Responsive Teaching in the Online Environment and Humanizing Online Teaching and Learning. Fabiola found her purpose in education at Los Angeles Valley College from 1990-1994 (ok... It took me 4 years to transfer). She academically flourished with her fellow first generation, college student activists. Currenlty, she attends Zoom parties with her LAVC, life-long friends. (We're still holding MEChA meetings.)

Michelle Pacansky-Brock

Michelle Pacansky-Brock @brocansky is faculty mentor for online teaching and learning with CVC-OEI/@ONE, a statewide project of the California Community College system, and the author of Best Practices for Teaching with Emerging Technologies. Michelle started teaching in the California Community College system 21 years ago and fell in love with teaching online in 2003. Michelle is leading a California Education Learning Lab grant that explores the impact of humanized online teaching on equity gaps in online STEM courses. Learn more about Michelle at brocansky.com.