Effective Online Teaching Practices during a Covid Environment

Abstract Over the last two decades online teaching has had its supporters and opponents. There were those who believe that online education would level the playing field, allowing all portions of the population access to education. There were those who believe that online education could never provide what an in-person experience could or should provide. In March of 2020, the world was handed a situation where arguments were required to be pushed aside and online learning had to become a reality for much of the nation, in order to preserve the health of our school communities. Almost a year later, educators' experiences in this dominantly online environment have morphed and opinions changed or blurred. What is the outcome of these educational circumstances which lie beyond our control? What are some best practices that have emerged from the morass of meddled together theories? What has worked? What hasn't? What if we must teach a really large class? Can one possibly still teach 400 students online and hope for student involvement? These and other topics will be explored as we delve into the new (yet old) environment of online learning during Covid.