On Episode 586, I welcome Seth Offenbach, Associate Professor in the History Department at Bronx Community College (CUNY), to Teaching in Higher Ed. We explore ways to foster kindness and a sense of community in online asynchronous classrooms, drawing from Seth’s recent article in Currents in Teaching and Learning. Seth reflects on his own evolution as an educator and how he’s been inspired by figures such as Kevin Gannon and Katherine Denial to build a pedagogy rooted in empathy.

We discuss practical strategies Seth uses to create welcoming, inclusive, and supportive online environments, including rethinking syllabus design with empathetic preambles, implementing flexible “poop happens” extension policies, and fostering regular one-on-one communication with students. Throughout the conversation, Seth and I emphasize that kindness in the classroom doesn’t mean lowering academic standards but rather supporting students as whole people (especially in times of stress). We also touch on logistical tactics, equity-minded syllabus approaches, and the value of continual reflection to ensure course policies remain student-centered and compassionate.

Resources from the episode:

• Kindness and Community in an Online Asynchronous Classroom, by Seth Offenbach
• Currents in Teaching and Learning – January 2025 edition
• Radical Hope: A Teaching Manifesto, by Kevin M. Gannon
• The Social Justice Syllabus Design Tool: A First Step in Doing Social Justice Pedagogy, by Sherria D. Taylor and Maria J. Veri
• Feeling Better: A Year without Deadlines, by Doreen Thierauf
• A Pedagogy of Kindness, by Catherine Denial
• Cultivating Compassionate Community to Foster Academic Integrity?, by Maha Bali and Yasser Tammer
• An Equity Syllabus
• Liquid Syllabus, by Michelle Pacansky-Brock
• Jesse Stommel
• The Practice of Ungrading, by Jesse Stommel
• Remi Kalir’s Annotated Syllabus
• Go Ahead and Ask for More Time on That Deadline, by Ashley Whillans
• A Pedagogy of Kindness: The Cornerstone for Student Learning and Wellness, by Fiona Rawle
• Effect of Syllabus Tone: Students’ Perceptions of Instructor and Course, by Harnish & Bridges
• Replacing Power with Flexible Structure: Implementing Flexible Deadlines to Improve Student Learning Experiences, by Hills & Peacock
• Enhancing Social Presence in Online Learning, by Joyce & Brown
• The 1:1 method, by Seth Godin
• Master Slave Husband Wife, by Ilyon Woo

Episode topics:

• Kindness as a Pedagogical Approach
• Evolving Teaching Philosophy for New Student Generations
• Impact of the Pandemic on Online Teaching
• Designing Equitable and Human-Centered Syllabi
• Flexible Deadlines & the "Poop Happens" Policy
• Distinguishing Between Hard and Soft Deadlines
• Building Community in Online Asynchronous Courses
• Mandatory and Flexible Student Communication
• Transparency and Equity in Course Policies
• Reducing Student Stress While Maintaining High Expectations
• Faculty as Campus Connectors and Student Advocates

Discussion questions:

1. Why does Seth argue that kindness in the classroom does not mean making the coursework easier? How does he distinguish between kindness and academic rigor?
2. What practical strategies does Seth incorporate into his syllabus to cultivate a kinder and more inclusive environment? Which of these would you consider adopting?
3. The "poop happens" extension policy is a memorable part of Seth’s approach. What message does this send to students, and how might such a policy impact student stress and learning outcomes?
4. Seth talks about the importance of transparency and equity regarding flexible deadlines. How might inconsistent communication about extensions unintentionally disadvantage some students?
5. In what ways can asynchronous online classes feel isolating, and what does Seth do to foster connection and reduce isolation among students?

Quotable Words

Some other memorable words from Seth on this episode:

When we teach, why not be kind?

Next Week’s Episode

On the upcoming episode of Teaching in Higher Ed, get ready to learn about Dr. Flux about what he calls “layered learning.” We’ll explore designing video with intention and authenticity.

Support

The money gathered via the TiHE virtual 'tip jar' helps to defray some of the costs of producing the podcast.

Read

My book: The Productive Online and Offline Professor: A Practical Guide, provides approaches to help you turn your intentions into action. I also write an advice column for EdSurge: Toward Better Teaching: Office Hours With Bonni Stachowiak

Listen

Subscribe to the Teaching in Higher Ed podcast and listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Overcast, Stitcher, TuneIn, or Spotify.

Share

Update: If you enjoy reading these weekly updates and would like to share them with a friend, they can sign up on the Teaching in Higher Ed updates subscribe page.

Disclosures

Affiliate income disclosure: Books that are recommended on the podcast link to the Teaching in Higher Ed bookstore on Bookshop.org. All affiliate income gets donated to the LibroMobile Arts Cooperative (LMAC), established in 2016 by Sara Rafael Garcia.”

Notice: Portions of these weekly updates are produced using CastMagic.io, which uses AI to produce a draft of the transcript, identify key quotes, highlight themes, etc.