Personally, in the time we have spent distance learning I have experienced academically my highest highs and lowest lows. At times, distance learning has been supremely demoralizing as there is so little to no meaningful peer engagement, leaving students feeling very isolated. On the other hand, distance learning has allowed a degree of freedom from the normal, hard-and-fast schedules in which we often find ourselves. During no other time have we been able to roll over five minutes before class to login to a Zoom lecture, saving use the time, hassle, and stress of commuting and going in-person to class. As a teacher, I would take notes from a prior professor of mine, and offer evening, online hang-out sessions for students. My professor hosted several movie nights--sometimes relating to class content, sometimes not--and other times just left the Zoom meeting open for conversation about anything and everything. Much less formal than office hours, this promoted peer engagement among...
