Online and hybrid teaching skills are increasingly important in modern higher education. I recognize that, while my personal preference is for in-person classes, online learning provides opportunities for students with busy work or family schedules, different learning abilities, or who are not able to attend synchronous classes in a given location. It is important to me that online learning include the elements that make teaching and learning successful and enjoyable; including engagement with the instructor and other students, interesting and practical assignments in line with appropriate learning objectives, and educational resources that promote diverse voices and opinions in science and policy. Using tools like videos, interactive discussions, and virtual labs can help improve access to education for many types of students.

In the online learning environment, I strive to maintain a collegial and engaging digital classroom. I create or select resources in a variety of formats that are accessible to students – making sure that video and audio clips have subtitles or a transcript, and making sure images have captions and descriptive text for e-readers. I keep course resources updated so they reflect the best available science. Students in my online and hybrid courses are expected to participate in online discussions and assignments in a way that promotes critical thinking and analysis, provides opportunities to apply knowledge in realistic scenarios, and maintains good online discussion etiquette where different opinions are respected. Virtual labs and asynchronous field work allow students to participate in active hands-on science no matter where they are located. For discussions I do my best to moderate, but not dominate, online interactions. By holding regular virtual office hours, responding promptly and politely to students, and returning feedback to students on time I can demonstrate my respect for their work and make myself available if they are having difficulties with the course. I really want students to feel welcome in the digital classroom environment and interested in the material! 

An online or hybrid course is more than just an in-person course recorded and put online. There are unique opportunities for students to engage in cross-boundary and interdisciplinary collaboration during online learning that mimics the kind of international science and policy work needed to address key modern issues like climate change. Working with scholars in other countries, across different ecosystems, and in varied disciplines can lead to collaborations between people who wouldn’t ordinarily meet face-to-face. For example, students can report on forest management practices in their home countries and compare and contrast different cultural attitudes towards wildfire. This is one of the reasons the IPCC reports on climate change have been so successful in building a worldwide network of climate scientists and policy analysts, and I try to recreate this type of collaborative science for my students. I will help to model good science and policy development through online education, and promote the use of technology to increase human connection across social boundaries.