I made a Google Doc to share with my students so they can talk about their weekends, music, our readings, just whatever. If they see something amazing they want to share, go for it—interesting poem: share it. It’s Free-Space like a bingo card. I hope they’ll use it and connect.

I’m also using my actual background as my background for Zoom. Not everyone will, and I respect that, but I feel comfortable letting my students see my space. It’s my natural habitat.

Students can leave their cameras off. Under no circumstances will they be asked to turn it on. I ask for a and they are using the chat feature for discussion as well as audio. *slow down, Houle, and let them think for a minute and type*

I’m interested in thinking about how we’re making classes effective remotely. I can’t simulate the in-class experience, so I try to consider what that in-class experience is supposed to do and find a way to build on, tweak it, pare it, whatever for a new reality.