Institute Lecture: Chris Friend

What COVID tore down might never have stood.

As classes moved from in-person to online delivery, many teachers lamented the loss of connection in exchange for connectivity; face-to-face sessions in exchange for Zoom meetings. We longed for that special vibe we feel when sharing space with one another. But do we take full advantage of that opportunity even when we are in a room together? How many students and instructors see reviewing shared slide decks as equivalent replacements for class attendance? Beyond Zoom fatigue, how different is a talk given via Zoom from a lecture delivered in a room?

Empathy—the ability to cognitively register or affectively feel the emotions of others—provides a helpful touchstone for assessing our engagement with students. Together, we’ll explore ways to emphasize empathy and hone our attention to be more in-tune with the students in our classes.