Affiliation:
1. Coppin State University, USA
Abstract
Teaching an online multicultural literature course during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic from Fall 2020 to Spring 2021 created an opportunity to engage in reflection on instructional practices and student reactions to diverse literature selections. In an effort to understand how community was created and dialogue maintained between instructor and students, the author sought to reflect on strategies that encouraged critical thinking and ongoing sharing of individual student perspectives during the course. This chapter examines how an online multicultural literature course was created and facilitated for students during a time when college courses were delivered solely through online instruction. The chapter illustrates how the online multicultural literature course was developed with culturally responsive pedagogy in mind to generate online discussion, guide literary analysis, and develop student writing. In examining this process, the chapter highlights instructional strategies that can be utilized by faculty to create engaging online learning communities.