I really appreciated this reading, especially because it felt different from the more traditional academic articles we’ve been working with. The Manifesto for Teaching Online (2016) presents ideas in a more direct and thought‑provoking way, which made it easier for me to connect it to my own teaching practice, as well as to the debate we just completed.
One idea that stood out to me is the claim that there is no single best way to teach online. This aligns strongly with what I see in my own classroom. Just as there is no one best way to teach, there is also no one best way for students to learn. Some students thrive in online spaces, while others need more direct, personal interaction. As teachers, I think the best we can do is offer a range of approaches and support students in ways that work for them. In my own practice, I try to balance this by providing written feedback and recognition online, while also building relationships through in-person interaction.
The manifesto also emphasizes the importance of relationships in online learning, which I fully agree with. I have found that when I take the time to connect with students and find common ground, they become more open to trying new things and more motivated to improve. This seems to matter much more than which specific tool or platform they are using.
In reflecting on the recent debate, this manifesto helped me see both sides more clearly. Differences between learners and contexts clearly matter, but there are also shared principles that help guide how digital learning environments are designed and supported. The manifesto reinforces that teaching online is complex, relational, and context-dependent, which makes it difficult to reduce it to simple claims of sameness or difference.
Overall, I found this manifesto to be a refreshing and valuable way to think about online teaching, especially as it brought together many of the ideas we have been exploring throughout this course.
Footnote: ChatGPT was used to refine the language in the final draft. All concepts and ideas are mine.
References:
Centre for Research in Digital Education. (2016). Manifesto for teaching online. University of Edinburgh. https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/manifestoteachingonline/the-text/