As a teacher-scholar navigating the challenges of the COVID-19 era, I am continually seeking to leverage the unique strengths of online teaching. In fall 2020, I taught an online-only (asynchronous) version of The Politics of Gender and Sexuality. Drawing from both Achen and Bartels’ Democracy for Realists and Jane Mansbridge’s Why We Lost the ERA, I suggested that legal remedies might not always offer marginalized groups the best way to have their voices heard — asking whether institutions are “democratic” if institutions offer only incomplete protection.
Here’s a sample, pre-recorded lecture from my class. I used TimeBolt to cut down on “dead air”; it’s a lifesaver. And while I would have preferred that students saw both me and my slides, I’ve found that students with more precarious Internet connections have an easier time downloading slides-only lectures. Message me with your own thoughts about online instruction! — I would enjoy comparing notes.
Eric R. Schmidt, PhD 