Lessons on Change: Shifting to Online Teaching during COVID-19

Abstract

The current COVID-19 pandemic has presented educators at all levels of schooling with the challenge of converting face-to-face instruction to online learning. Past efforts to enact educational change, especially the adoption of technology in the classroom, have had mixed results. The author outlines frequent barriers to successful pedagogical change and contrasts these with observations of positive change strategies employed by her institution in moving to online learning. The essay concludes that strong institutional support for the development of technical skills, coupled with collegial sharing and building on current practices, leads to a sense of agency among instructors and a greater willingness to embrace change.