The COVID-19 pandemic has presented significant instructional challenges for traditional K-12 schools in many ways. It has been quite challenging for students to develop positive attitudes towards online learning and maintaining motivation to help them remain focused during online classes (OECD, 2020).

One area that poses distinct challenges as a result from the rapid shift to online distance learning is “the loss of face-to-face interaction between students and instructor and among students” (Sher, 2009, p. 103). An inability to “share the same physical environment” (Hebebci, Bertiz, & Alan, 2020, p. 275) has limited educators' ability to facilitate meaningful peer-interactions. This is particularly challenging for upper elementary students that have the capacity to engage in meaningful peer interactions but require supervision, difficult to manage with a limited number of educators assigned to each class.

Come join this online community to share your strategies, ideas, and challenges in facilitating meaningful peer-to-peer conversations and interactions in an online distance learning environment!