Teaching Grief and Loss to Students Online: How to have presence without being present

Sesson I, Virtual Room 1: Health & Well-Being

Teaching about grief and loss can be challenging, and this may be particularly so when teaching this content online. Connecting with students when teaching online and effectively helping them to achieve competency in practice skills requires innovative methods. This article will address: 1) understanding online education methodologies and the challenge of teaching grief and loss online; 2) strategies and opportunities for teaching grief and loss virtually; 3) developing assignments, exercises, case examples and role plays that will be effective in the online classroom; and 4) how to create a safe space in the online classroom and be responsive to the discomfort that these topics often evoke in students. Challenges for students and online learning during the COVID-19 crisis will be addressed along with opportunities for development of peer support networks. This presentation will address the value of presence and mindfulness in teaching about grief and loss and include demonstrations of available technology to increase student participation, support and instructor presence. The presentation will be presented in a case study format of the instructors’ experiences transitioning from in person to online teaching in grief and loss.