S. Worthen | Weblog

One of the advantages and disadvantages of teaching an online class is never getting to meet my students. For once, our lack of face-to-face on campus contact has a benefit: there was a shooting on the UALR campus last night. The victim is in hospital. Classes on campus were canceled last night.

I hope my students are safe. I want them safe on campus too, but am selfishly grateful that, at least for now, they weren't endangered for any of the classes I teach. Online teaching can be very effective, but I feel sorry for students who never have a chance to interact with any of their instructors face-to-face. This shouldn't be a reason to encourage online classes in lieu of face-to-face ones even if, temporarily, it's a comfort.