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With remote teaching, students have expressed how, among other things, they miss the social interactivity interaction that is present in a traditional, in-person classes.
While social interaction between students is not often considered a goal in the classroom, acknowledging it Acknowledging and addressing it this interaction in a way that complements the curriculum can improve student satisfaction, interest, and ultimately success in the course.
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One of the easiest ways to create an opportunity for social interaction is to organize groups that have a designed purpose. The advantages of peer learning are well-documented, but the challenge here is creating something interaction in a manner that doesn’t feel too organized or forced. So, while a group project or activity may be an easy a straightforward (and useful) approach, it might may not foster the social aspect that what students are looking for.
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What may not work when compelled , might may be successful when suggestedthrough suggestion. Instructors are encouraged to create opportunities for students to interact and provide an infrastructure, if needed, to do so successfully. Instructors should not directly participate in these opportunities , but rather facilitate their existence and continuationcontinue them.
These opportunities can include study groups, film watch parties, and other similar activities that tie into the course content. While When voluntary, these groups activities may allow students to benefit directly from peer interaction more moreso than formal group work and peer learning assignments. These groups would ideally meet outside of Bruin Learn /or any other university structure so as to distinguish them meaningfully from graded class activityactivities.
Instructor input can be more than just a suggestion, however. By creating a Discussion in Bruin Learn expressly suggested via Bruin Learn. One way, for example, would be to create a Discussion on the course site to allow groups to organize, the . The instructor can , for example, keep the a conversation going in a study group going by posting weekly on suggested topics for discussion and consideration – on a weekly basis (even if that conversation is not happening within Bruin Learn). For film classescourses, providing students with a list discussion prompts or lists of things to look for and a discussion prompt may foster watch parties to form and be maintained over the termwhen viewing can foster interaction during watch parties.
It may be best practice not to attach a grade (or even extra credit) to this kind of group , even extra creditactivity. Removing grades and direct instructor oversight from can make the activity will make it feel less like a secret hoop that students have to jump through in order to get on the instructor’s good side and more like a truly voluntary activityfeel less obligatory.