Teaching through the pandemic heightened instructors' awareness of obstacles that can interfere with students' ability to learn and demonstrate their learning. Flexibility and accessibility are important components of equitable and engaged teaching, but how can we be responsive to students' needs without significantly increasing the workload for instructors and decreasing the rigor of classes? Is it possible to implement "flexibility with guardrails," and how do we tailor course policies to provide the structure needed to effectively learn while meeting the different needs of individual students? Join the Poorvu Center for this one-hour zoom session where we will discuss how to adapt aspects of courses to support students without significant increased workload or reduction of rigor. A faculty panel featuring Conkey P. Whitehead Professor of Chemistry, Patrick Holland, and Director of Expository Writing and Course Co-Director for the English 114 Writing Seminars, Heather Klemann, will share how they approach flexible and accessible course design. Participants will be invited to discuss with the faculty panel how creating accessible course materials and flexible course policies can help to accommodate student absences and provide more equitable course experiences during the pandemic and beyond, particularly for students with disabilities and those with unforeseen life events. We are committed to hosting inclusive and accessible events that allow all participants to fully engage. Please contact us faculty.teaching@yale.edu if there are ways we can support accommodations or for questions about inclusion.
