My MBA classes moved online this week. We’re using ZOOM to dial in and the professors usually set up a small studio or just share their screens. For the circumstances, it works pretty well. I thought it doesn’t capture the in person learning environment as well, but there have been some positives.
The introverts of the class are all asking the best questions in the ZOOM chat now. At school, there were a dozen or so students who rarely raised their hands. Language barriers or personality might have been the reason. ESMT sells the diversity of its class and the small sizes as a reason to join the school. Naturally, you want to hear from as many people as possible during classes. If someone doesn’t participate, the rest of the class doesn’t benefit from their insight.
So now, as we’ve moved online, these students are talking! They’re not speaking through the camera, but participating through the chat. It’s been amazing to watch. The whole class is getting more value out of these student’s insights even though the overall experience is degraded. As we return to class, it’s worth thinking about how IRL classes can be made more participative for introverts. It’s certainly proving worthwhile now to get more perspectives.