In a message with a student last week, it came up that in Digital Imaging students never really have a platform to share or show off their art to one another.

This hit me as one of the major differences between this online context and a face to face classroom: that there was no opportunity for students to see one another’s work, critique or compliment it, or draw inspiration from one another. It got me thinking about the ways that I could bring that into the online classroom.

I created an announcement with two proposed solutions:

1. The Class Gallery

I created a discussion board topic for students to share their work. I wrote instructions for sharing an image in their post, and an attached file outlining the kind of feedback I expected (always supportive) with some examples of how to write a comment in a kind and constructive way.

In one class, I made a post myself with my icon drawing, in the hopes that that would get it rolling—in the other, I left it empty. (For science.)

2. Instagram

The second route I offered was that I would post work on my teacher Instagram (@ms.nalepa) if students were willing. I stressed that their work is their own, and I would only share it with their consent: I included a google form where they could answer Yes, share my art; No; or Maybe (ask about the specific piece.)

Students are divided perfectly 2:1 between yes and maybe. Many students didn’t answer the poll, either because they don’t read my announcements 🙁 or because that was their way of saying no. But I have so far received 36 responses out of ~100 students, ~60 of whom are active in the art-making parts of the course (the rest of whom I’m dragging out of the citation practice and quiz taking murkiness of the beginning.)

I also included a Questions/Comments/Concerns box in the form: this whole project was born in about a day, so I assumed I’d missed something students would be worried about.

One student asked if my account was private. It wasn’t, but I changed it so it was. Another student, in a sort of opposite direction, asked me to tag her personal account in any of her artwork. Some students wanted anonymity and privacy, while others wanted credit for their work.

One student even thanked me for the option, which made me feel pretty good.

The discussion board so far only has 2 posts by students: one in each section. I made an announcement encouraging others to go comment and share their own work, and I’ve begun mentioning that some pieces are great candidates for the board in feedback: on work that demonstrates a big triumph for a particular student, or works that present creative ways of thinking based on the different prompts.

I’m hoping to see more posts and discussion soon!

(PS:  Just got my 37^th survey response, so at least someone is reading my announcements.)

My first true week at Michigan Virtual was a hectic relief–there were a thousand and one things going on, but I was so glad I finally knew what it would be like.

Over the summer I taught 5 separate courses with a total of only 10 students across all of them. It was an interesting experience, as I had time to get acquainted the material, the system, the students; but I knew it wasn’t really an indicator of what my First Week Of School would be like.

I think the thing which surprised me the most was the number of messages I’ve been receiving on blackboard. Not including texts, calls, or regular emails, I have received 179 messages. The last thing I did before opening this blog post was answer messages, and I now have 4 unread ones.

The sheer volume of these has made it difficult to answer them (so many are introductions with contact info, and I’ve skimmed them at best.) After all, I also have their work to grade, and their discussion posts to read, and announcements to write. I’d also like to fit in some sleep, if I can manage it.

However, the more of their messages I read the more I realize that while I have 179 and counting piling up in my inbox, they have 0. And many of them have 1 in their outbox, and it was a message they wrote carefully, and signed off so kindly.

The student who took the time to tell me in their introduction message about their excitement to be entering a culinary arts program at a local college, I had to answer. I had to tell them how wonderful that was, and that I couldn’t wait to see how they used photography from their cooking in our digital imaging work.

Another student opened up to tell me that since moving here from the Caribbean, they attended a high school in another state and struggled socially as an English Language Learner. That same student has been enthusiastically active on the discussion board, where they’ve been able to take the time to run their messages through Google translate and take part in the conversation.

One thing I was uncertain about when I joined Michigan Virtual was how I’d be able to forge relationships with students in an online context. Although I’ve always been an introverted person, and enormously preferred written communication to spoken, I just wasn’t sure how it would compare to the Face-to-Face environment that I knew.

Although the last thing I need on my plate at the moment is a new goal, I’ve decided to let no personal interaction go unacknowledged. I’m excited to get to know them and see them grow and learn.