Reflections

Where I was.

At the start of this program I was already aware of equity gaps, but I didn't consider how those would interact with the online learning experience. I learned during the course how equity gaps for online courses may differ from in-person classes, or even be amplified compared to in-person classes. Imposter syndrome, stereotype threat, and belongingness uncertainty can all be amplified by remote learning. I learned in this class some important strategies for reducing equity gaps in the online learning environment.

Before the course, I was tempted to add more humanized content to my courses, but I was unsure how that content would be received by students or even by other faculty. I was relieved to learn during the course that students respond positively towards humanized content added to online courses. It was also affirming to learn  that students respond positively to an active instructor presence characterized by kindness and empathy.

Where I am.

I now feel more aware of equity gaps and the utility of adding humanized content especially as these pertain to the online learning experience.

Where I am going.

I have not only learned about the need to address equity gaps and add humanized content, but I also gained a set of course content creation tools. I am now poised to incorporate my new knowledge using these new tools for thoroughly updating my online course materials. I also feel emboldened to continue learning new technologies and approaches for humanizing the online STEM environment.