Hannah Klawa: Empowering students through community and curiosity
“All things considered, I prefer teaching online,” says IU East Mathematics Professor Hannah Klawa, who has been teaching in some form since 2016. “I enjoy seeing students solve problems in real time. But teaching online is packed with advantages. In discussion forums, you can keep the conversation going and delve deeply into topics. There’s not the same rigid time constraint to discussions. Students are more inclined to speak up, or ask questions if they don’t understand.”
Remote feels like community
In Klawa’s classes, students get to know each another. Discussion forums encourage community. Think of a virtual village green. People meet, hang out, get to know one another, and discuss. “At the start of the semester my students introduce themselves. They work together and get to know each another. If they take more than one course together, they form a special bond. Relationships grow. Sometimes students meet up outside the course to talk math or ideas."
Math Club highlights career advantage
“The online IU East Math Club strengthens the sense of community among faculty and students. At one event, seven faculty and 21 students got together and talked about classes, graduate school, and jobs. Alums and other mathematicians come and talk about how specific issues, or fields, or math in general relate to their careers. Today’s students are focused on outcomes, so this is especially meaningful. Students can see how math leads to practical outcomes."
The joy of empowering students
“What guides my teaching is a growth mindset. I focus on learning, not perfection. I love helping people improve their skill."
“When students make a mistake, I want to know whether it’s simply a mistake, or whether they need more help understanding the material. That’s harder to gauge online. I enjoy that challenge and try to phrase my points in ways that draw students out. It’s so rewarding when students say, ‘Oh, now I get it!’"
“I encourage students to be curious. Ask questions. Think about the topics you want to explore on your own. The physical classroom allows only so much time to explore. In asynchronous learning there’s no hard stop to discussions. Recorded lectures also mean unlimited access. You can take all the time you need to think and make connections as you listen."
“People learn in different ways. Some do well with lectures. Some prefer texts. Others do well in discussions. For those who want synchronous interaction I offer Zoom. I have a lot of tools to support diverse learning styles."
“It’s a lot about being available and willing to discuss questions. We talk about math, independent study, undergraduate research, grad school, career ideas. If I don’t have the answer, I try to suggest other faculty who might."
Students empower each other
“Online students are a diverse group in age, background, working, non-working, and in ethnicities. Students who have time for their own research share ideas from their reading. This variety of input enlivens learning."
“So many students are balancing work, school, and raising families. They use discussion groups to talk about real-world challenges, how they fit it all in, what to do when they get discouraged. They encourage each other. Having common ground on this level is another kind of community."
Math students are excited and dedicated
“Online students are dedicated to their program. They interact a lot because they’re excited about math. Our course offerings are a draw. I’ve had students from other universities because their programs didn’t offer specific courses. Most students who take math online really want to be there and there is a lot of engagement.”