Spring 2022 - Volume 25, Issue 1
- Sense of Community in Synchronous and Asynchronous Online Courses: Perceptions and Experiences of Nontraditional Students
- Distance Administration of Distance Staff
- Faculty PLCs for Maintaining Community and Online Teaching During Remote Work
- Why stay? Factors That Encourage Active-Duty Military and Veterans to Complete Their Online degrees
- Reemerging Spaces: Examining Classroom Climates in the HyFlex Realm
From the Editor
Greetings Friends,
As we acknowledge the two-year mark of the world-changing pandemic, I call your attention to two articles in this spring edition of the OJDLA. Our esteemed colleague Thomas Tobin discusses the opportunities (and challenges) of managing an increasingly-remote distance learning support staff, while author Thomas Mays tackles the ongoing challenge of building a community in a virtual environment.
The commonality among all of this is that we are, more than ever, in a world in which our relationships with students, co-workers, friends and even extended families rely on digital communications. In spite of 20 years or more years of practice in texting, social media, and written discussion boards, most of us are still woefully average (at best) in our online communications. Online words are misconstrued, delivered impersonally, limited by rigid boundaries, crafted to fit rubrics or at worst - ignored by their intended audience. As we move into our next chapter in this uncertain world, it's imperative that we remain committed to intentional understanding, authenticity, and full presence in our online classrooms, remote work environments, and digital society. Even when and especially when it feels uncomfortable.
Wishing you peace, harmony and hope in the days to come.
Melanie
Melanie N. Clay, Ph.D.