RC Concepcion, digital post-production specialist in visual communications, co-authored the paper, “Thriving in ‘The New Normal:’ Student-Centered Practices, Design, and Tools of Hybrid and Online Learning Environments” with Christopher J. McCollough, Jamie Ward and Adrienne A. Wallace. The paper was published in the Journal of Public Relations Education.
Online learning became our new normal over two weeks in Spring 2020 and remains a critical component for instruction at many institutions as the process of vaccination and return to campuses continues. The rapid shift brought technological integration, pedagogical shifts, and evolution in assessment. This left many educators and students overwhelmed, frustrated, and confused in the process. Originally presented in a panel as part of the 2021 AEJMC Public Relations Division’s Virtual Conference, this team of educators in public relations and media production offer insights on online instructional design and share tools and resources valuable to public relations education used during the pandemic response, with applications beyond the pandemic. In addition to providing a review of several tools, this article will share perspective on managing diverse learning styles, content delivery for diverse platforms, ensuring accessibility for all learners, class engagement, and assessment, while providing some personal reflection on their experiences in offering traditional public relations offerings during the pandemic.