Teaching online in summer 2025 left me with more questions than answers, and I think that is a good thing. I came into the course thinking I just needed to get my materials organized. I am leaving with a much deeper awareness of how complex online instruction really is. There is so much more work to be done in digital spaces, especially when it comes to making courses feel like real, human-centered learning environments.
One of the biggest things I realized this summer is the tension between compliance and connection. I have had those checklist moments. Captions? Check. Modules? Check. Announcement? Check. But it was not until I began reflecting on my own class and reading some of my peers’ posts that I realized those features, while necessary, do not automatically equal access. There is an almost disappointing quality to built-in accessibility tools sometimes. They help us check boxes without pushing us to think more deeply about how students actually use the materials.
I have also been thinking more about how to help students feel connected in online spaces. I loved how responsive my students were during conferences, and it made me wonder what else I could build into the course to make them feel seen and supported from the start. That question is also pushing me toward something bigger. This summer got me thinking more seriously about combining my interest in UX design and online pedagogy as a potential research direction. Course design is not just about structure. It is about shaping a whole experience. I am curious about what design decisions make students feel empowered, or confused, or isolated, and how we can rework those spaces to support deeper engagement.
I will be honest about the harder parts too. Mid-semester burnout is real, and the screen can create so much emotional distance. There were moments when I felt like I was the only one keeping the energy alive. And now, with generative AI becoming more widespread, I find myself asking how we get students to do their own thinking and actually move through the writing process. I do not have full answers to that yet.
But I know that this class, and the conversations we shared in our forums, gave me tools, knowledge, and examples to build from. I am walking away more aware, more curious, and more committed to doing this work in a way that values reflection, care, accessibility, flexibility, and genuine engagement.