At the Teaching and Learning Conference 2021, Alison Johns, Advance HE, asked educators what the future of student engagement would look like--"How can we get the best of what technology-enhanced learning can do to support inclusion and diversity?" Johns posed the question of what can be done about the physical aspects of student learning, field trips, placements, lab sessions now that school shutdowns remain a looming possibility? Majority of participants agreed that student opinion must be weighed heavily in curriculum making and engagement across different platforms that ensured inclusivity would be key in digital, blended, and flexible teaching approaches in the future.
To this end, Topia is the perfect solution for educators looking to engage their students in an interactive digital environment. Unlike other video chat platforms, it can be completely customized to fit specific needs. Users can choose themes, avatars, room design, add audio-visual elements, even create breakout rooms to foster peer-to-peer discussions. This level of customization gives teachers complete freedom to tailor their virtual environment to meet the curriculum they are teaching and the learning outcomes they aspire to achieve.