Discussing sensitive topics online

Online teaching in times of the pandemic at private flats and family homes of students was a challenging situation, especially when sensitive topics were discussed as part of the seminar. Learning with the use of computers is comfortable in many ways, but it did not replace personal meetings. Discussing sensitive topics in particular turned out to be problematic; some students who lived or studied in family homes were not able to actively discuss certain topics, particularly political issues and political ideologies or worldviews. I noticed that not many of them had the courage to speak when a family member or other students were present in the same room. According to many students, the presence of family members or roommates when studying online leads to

“a sense of discomfort”

“being blocked when participating in classes”

“a sense of rigidity as someone intrudes into our educational space”

“fear that someone will say something or interrupt in our classes”.

Sometimes students were not able to share their own point of view concerning a particular sensitive topic because they were at home with their families. As one student noticed,

“students are staring at the screen, with family life taking place around them, tend to just sit and listen and be disengaged rather than ask questions and actively participate in a class”.

Another student shared:

“it isn’t so simple when normal life is going on around us, and academic discourse in which nothing is black and white enters this normal, ordinary life”.

Other opinions pointed to embarrassing situations which can happen when a family member overhears a fragment of a class conversation, or misunderstands a statement without context. These situations can easily cause discomfort and lead to misunderstanding or antagonism. An important issue to consider is the unintentional presence of small children in the space where an academic seminar is taking place (Markowska-Manista & Zakrzewska-Olędzka, 2020). Several students who have either their own children or younger siblings pointed out this issue, which can also be problematic in the case of discussing sensitive topics. Certain discussions or content should not be fragmentarily heard or seen by children playing nearby, such as the subject of genocide, child soldiers, deviation, pathology, child abuse, human trafficking (Hall, 2020). And a final issue to consider was that of illness. Sick students, who wished to attend the seminar online, were able to do so, considering that they did not have to leave their home, but were only able to listen, rather than participate. Students suggested that in these situations, they felt depressed.

How to address this situation?

The instructor decided to conduct a student evaluation online, in order to understand the diverse needs of students when discussing potentially sensitive topics in an online setting. nInviting students to voice their opinions was also a form of encouraging students participation. Students can answer the following questions (online, anonymously, if needed):

• When is a particular topic controversial, and when is it sensitive? Answer the question focusing on your experience and knowledge.
• What challenges connected with sensitive topics and its implementation in our class can you see?
• What limitations, problems connected with such topics and its implementation in our class can you see?
• How can a discussion on such subjects be conducted in an ethical, non-discriminatory way online? Write some examples.
• What strategies would you choose to discuss this topic in an online class?
• What can be a limiting factor for you in participating in an online class when discussing a controversial topic?
• What is the best way to address the limitations you described above?

online_teaching_-_student_feedback_on_sensitive_topics.pdf

Works cited:

Hall, J. J. (2020). Approaching “sensitive” topics: criticality and permissibility in research-led teaching about children, sexualities, and schooling. Journal of Geography in Higher Education, 44(2), 248-264.

Markowska-Manista, U., & Zakrzewska-Olędzka, D. (2020). Family with children in times of pandemic–what, where, how? Dilemmas of adult-imposed prohibitions and orders. Society Register, 4(3), 89-110.

Nikischer, Andrea (Buffalo State College), Teaching Sensitive Topics Online (online presentation), 2019. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=auqNbLhj40M&list=PLgQKAIaYkVaJfPNd1BcImvtrGFebY9dWw&index=3&t=0s