Creating online learning experiences that promote care (referring to a sense of compassion, empathy, and consideration for the well-being of others) in an equitable manner requires heightened awareness of multiple dimensions of injustice, intentional action and adaptation. These considerations are crucial for ensuring all students have the resources, opportunities, and support they need to succeed and thrive in a remote learning environment.
During this interactive session, we explore the concept of "Equitable Communities of Care" and how it applies to online education. We discuss the importance of addressing the needs of all students, regardless of their background or circumstances, and the role of emotional and social support in creating a safe and supportive learning environment.
We also introduce the "Equity-Care Matrix", a tool for analyzing and evaluating educational practices and systems in terms of their fairness and care. You learn how to apply the matrix to your online classes and institutions and identify areas that need improvement.
We also introduce the concept of "Intentionally Equitable Hospitality" as an approach to moving towards socially just care in online education. We sample some concrete ideas available in the curated community building resources on OneHE/Equity-Unbound and discuss ways of adapting them to different contexts.
By the end of this webinar, you have a deeper understanding of how to create educational experiences that are supportive, inclusive, and considerate of the needs and perspectives of all participants and have the tools to put this into practice. By promoting care in online learning, educators can help students build strong relationships, feel a sense of belonging, and become more engaged in their education.
Key Takeaways
As a result of attending this interactive and engaging webinar, participants can:
● Apply the Equity-Care Matrix to analyze practices in their own context and institution.
● Consider ways to enhance equitable community building using the lens of Intentionally Equitable Hospitality as an approach to socially just care.
● Find suitable community building practices to use in online teaching and be ready to adapt them as needed.
