Maximizing the student experience: moving forward with online learning

Abstract

Online learning is not going away, in fact, it is growing exponentially. While some students and educators may have been forced into the online instructional realm under less-than-ideal circumstances due to COVID-19, the authors agree with Schwartzman (2020), who noted there is a benefit from this experience--shifting perspectives from a deficit-based view of online learning (i.e., it is categorically inferior to face-toface [FtF] instruction) to one in which educators leverage technology to make higher education more accessible and holistic, while preserving the potential for meaningful connection. In this article, the authors discuss how they believe educators can enhance students' learning experiences and encourage engagement in ways that can be successful and fulfilling for everyone involved.