Question for My Fellow Educators
As online learning continues to evolve, I'm curious to hear your thoughts on how we can best balance structure and flexibility in virtual classrooms to support both accountability and student well-being.
In your experience, how do you design your courses or set expectations to ensure students stay on track without becoming overwhelmed? Do you favor strict weekly deadlines, soft due dates, or open pacing with check-ins? How has this approach impacted student engagement and success?
Looking forward to learning from your experiences and strategies!
That’s a great question—and one I’ve been navigating myself. I’ve found that a combination of structure and flexibility works best. I keep weekly deadlines in place to maintain accountability, but I also build in grace periods and clear communication channels so students feel supported, not stressed.
I use weekly overviews, checklists, and video reminders to help students stay on track, while also offering flexibility when life happens—because it often does. For example, I allow a 48-hour window after deadlines where students can submit work without penalty, and I emphasize early communication if they need more time.
This balance has improved both engagement and completion rates in my courses. Students appreciate knowing what's expected and knowing that they're not penalized for being human. It fosters trust, which is crucial in online learning.
I’d love to hear more about how others build in structure without rigidity—especially in accelerated terms!
