The Interrupted Semester: Thoughts and Tools that Move Us Full Circle

Abstract

In a matter of weeks—and in some cases, days—teachers were asked to move the remainder of their semester-long, in-person courses to the online environment, restructuring assignments and methods of content delivery along the way. Now, we live in-between, as people have navigated hybrid, stops and re-starts. What helped us then can help us in the future as other unexpected twists and turns come our way. Whatever your situation may be, our hope is that the strategies, tools, and lessons learned outlined in this article will invite you to consider new and creative options for current and future curve balls that come your way while still maintaining the integrity of your learning objectives. The article specifically offers suggestions for moving lectures, group assignments, case studies, and activity simulations from the physical classroom to the virtual classroom. It is our desire that this article empowers you to make the best decisions for yourself and your students as you navigate the uncharted waters of online teaching and learning that could come again due to weather, illness and future unknowns. The keys are adaptation, flexibility, and curiosity about what could work.