For more than 20 years, Patrica Drentea, Ph.D., has built a community around the University of Alabama at Birmingham students in her virtual classroom. Through teaching courses in UAB’s online MA in Sociology program, she’s adapted new ways to make her class a community without a classroom—and has helped her students apply sociological skills in their careers.
She says of the experience, “Each semester we create a small community with almost daily interaction; we get to know one another.”
The students in her class have various careers and some students have recently completed their undergraduate studies, which makes for a diverse learning experience that really shows up in the weekly discussion board conversations. Students are required to respond to the discussion prompt on the topic covered and reply to their classmates, and they’re encouraged to relate the discussion back to their own careers and experiences.
Dr. Drentea says, “The students can really bring their profession into the classroom and understand situations they've had with a new lens around it, a sociological understanding. A lot of what we teach them are ways they can apply sociology to solve social problems.” She adds that there is a benefit to the wide range of students in the program, saying, “The students that are just out of college are being exposed to all the professionals who generally have similar degrees. I think that is really valuable for them.”
Dr. Drentea also believes the online MA in Sociology program at UAB is a great way to develop professional skills used in various professions. She notices her younger students gaining confidence in their communicating and critiquing skills. Her experienced students are very motivated to learn from one another, encouraging those right out of undergrad.
Since students can post on the discussion board anytime throughout the week, they are able to provide well-rounded answers, not feeling rushed by the limited time of a typical in-person class or the pressure of their peers sitting next to them.
“I hear from the students who normally I wouldn’t hear from in the classroom, and I think that’s been really helpful for them,” Dr. Drentea said. “We hear many viewpoints, and that enriches the class.”
Dr. Drentea says the online format of the degree program not only benefits the students but has also helped change how she teaches both her online and in-person courses. The online program required her to become more organized to accommodate students who are not physically present. “When you teach online, everything has to be organized ahead of time and super clear. It’s forced me to really think about my teaching in a different way. One thing I love about online classes is that I feel like I have the time to engage with the material. I have more time to think through answers or look something up before I reply.”
It is through embracing these opportunities for deeper thought and intentional connection that Dr. Drentea and her students continue to learn from each other. Her students provide insight into each other’s careers, giving their peers the opportunity to learn how sociology relates to a vast range of professions with firsthand accounts, building a small, supportive community.
