Mou Banerjee and Todd Michelson-Ambelang highlighted for excellence in digital pedagogy

On the final day of remote classes last fall, students in one of Assistant Professor Mou Banerjee’s history courses surprised her with a gesture that nearly brought her to tears.

One by one, the students held up homemade posters in front of their computer cameras, revealing a series of heartfelt thank-you messages.

“We could all feel how much Professor Banerjee was giving to us every single day in class, and we wanted to give something back to her,” says freshman Ellie Asher, a student in the class.

The gesture was one small reflection of how UW–Madison instructors are making strong connections virtually with their students — and the appreciation students feel in return.

Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic forced many courses online last year, UW–Madison instructors have been investing great thought and effort into making their virtual classrooms engaging and inclusive. A campus project is now collecting some of those stories, including Banerjee’s. The project provides a forum for instructors to share what has worked for them while spotlighting some of the hard work undertaken by faculty members during a challenging time.

“While we look forward to the end of the global pandemic, it has forced us to rethink how we work with our students,” says Steve Cramer, vice provost for instructional continuity and academic affairs. “As difficult as this time has been for everyone, I truly believe most instructors will come out of this time as better and more effective teachers.”