“Bringing you into the Zoom”: the power of authentic engagement in a time of crisis in the U.S.

Against the backdrop of fear and uncertainty during the pandemic, the unprecedented shift to online learning has proven difficult for students and educators alike. Many educators are also feeling burnt out by the demands of teaching online. Teaching to black screens and muted audios is hard, and almost 45% of educators said that strategies to keep students engaged and motivated is a major need. Creating opportunities for students to richly introduce themselves is a cornerstone of authentic engagement online. Sharing our own self-boxes as educators also helped humanize the Zoom classroom. Creating opportunities for students to give and receive positive feedback can help make learning environments a place where students feel “a sense of safety and trust, as well as openness”.