NMSU professors share tips on creating community in hybrid classroom

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the academic world, two New Mexico State University professors shared 10 things they learned these past few semesters about creating community in a hybrid classroom, which they experienced as in-person, synchronous, and asynchronous.

In an online workshop earlier this month, presenters Alice Poole, college associate professor, and Marieka Brown, college professor, from the Department of English, shared their strategies as part of the Digital Learning Initiatives Faculty Spotlight Series, which focuses on highlighting active learning and assessment in the online environment. The meeting was open to faculty across campus to dive in and share their strategies for keeping students engaged.

Both professors reminded participants that instructors and students “are not robots, we are human beings.” The purpose is to highlight that while the transition to online learning has been stressful, professors can still find ways to encourage their students to stay focused and to remind them of their goals.

One of the tips included starting class by simply having a conversation with students. The professors shared that this can be done through exercises such as providing visualizations and presenting photos representing how the students might be feeling that day. This gives the students a moment to express their feelings and relate to one another.

Communication has been key in keeping students active, engaged and seen. Poole and Brown said that keeping the door open to listening to students and understanding that each student’s living conditions vary, has actually increased participation in class.

A suggested tactic for retaining students was to set their own class norms, which are then posted on Canvas. Poole highlighted that when asking students “What behaviors annoy you in the classroom?” many of those answers revolved around respect.

Another strategy involved using Zoom “break-out rooms,”which help keep the class moving forward in dynamic ways, Brown said. This gives students the opportunity to break into small groups and discuss with one another more inclusively, so each student can have their ideas heard.

As online learning continues to be a practice for many classes, Poole and Brown emphasized that “being aware” is vital to creating community. “All of these things, such as breakout rooms, take longer than in-person classes,” said Poole. “I have had to learn that it’s not 2019. It’s 2021, and I have to be adaptable and aware that things take more time.”

When it comes to providing feedback on assignments or projects, Poole and Brown said they let students decide on the modalities they’d prefer. This can be done in the form of comments, rubrics, Zoom meetings, or video/audio recordings. The purpose is to heighten students’ responses to the feedback received.

At the end of the workshop, other instructors chimed in and shared their own strategies, such as weekly non-graded journal reflection assignments for low-performing students and flexibility with time. Poole and Brown added that the strategies had been in the works as their classes developed these last three semesters. 

A complete list of 10 things they learned these past few semesters about “creating community” in a hybrid classroom:

1. Being kind and flexible
2. Giving feedback
3. Embracing revision
4. Having a sense of humor
5. Being aware
6. Integrating breakout rooms
7. Highlighting engagement
8. Creating ownership through class norms
9. Prioritizing communications
10. Considering the whole student

Digital Learning Initiatives is hosted every month and highlights how NMSU faculty is teaching online.

The next presentation is scheduled November 19 with David Irvin. Past presentations conducted from the last year can be found here. For more information on how to register or participate, you can contact nmid@nmsu.edu.