Many students and instructors have had to go through a swift period of transition over the past several months – figuring out online learning platforms, struggling with poor connectivity, and the demands on their home-school-work hours all while dealing with the acute and long-term effects of a global pandemic. While the transition to remote learning has mostly settled, many instructors are now asking themselves how that can adapt their instructional style and focus to ensure students remain engaged.

Recently Department of Law and Legal Studies faculty member, Dr. Melanie Adrian, sat down with Rich Boychuk to discuss her innovative approach to remote learning. Dr. Adrian shared, “We know that marginalized people and poor communities are bearing the brunt and burden of this…” and asked:

“What are the values we want to guide us through this? My average class will have a fair number of students who have official accommodations. Another 5 to 10 per cent will have different kinds of needs: learning, social, psychological. And students are going to have all sorts of emotions about being online. Not being social enough. Not going out. There’s going to be another layer of care added on to what we are doing.”

Read more about Dr. Adrian’s approach and insghts here: All Together Now: Teaching Trailblazer Melanie Adrian Wants to Make Remote Learning a Social.