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Workshop

Teaching and Learning Strategies

Presence Over Polish: Reclaiming Connection in the Age of Digital Teaching

SESSION DATES & TIMES COMING IN AUGUST 2026
Audience Classification: Online Learning
Audience Expertise: All Levels - This session is intentionally designed to engage and provide value across experience levels-from beginners to seasoned leaders.
Grade Level Focus: Pre-K, Elementary Schools, Middle Schools, High Schools, Higher Education, Adult Learners
Does this session focus on a specific product? No – This session is focused on ideas, strategies, or practices, not a specific product or service.
Abstract Description : n an edtech era obsessed with polish, automation, and AI-generated everything, we’ve lost sight of a simple truth: students don’t connect to perfection, they connect to presence. This session is a rallying cry for educators, leaders, and digital innovators who believe that relationships, not just resources, are the heart of meaningful learning.

Together, we’ll reimagine what it means to teach in asynchronous, hybrid, and virtual environments by centering human connection. Grounded in classroom practice and the science of parasocial relationships, this session reveals how low-tech strategies like teacher-created videos, imperfect walkthroughs, and asynchronous “hallway moments” can ignite engagement, foster trust, and sustain motivation.

Expect bold insights, practical tools, and a renewed vision for digital learning. You’ll leave equipped with strategies that are ready to use and inspired to lead with authenticity. Because asynchronous doesn’t mean absent, and presence always matters more than polish.

Learning Objectives:

  • At the end of this session, participants will be able to define and identify key elements of parasocial relationships and explain how they impact student engagement, motivation, and trust in virtual learning environments.
  • At the end of this session, participants will be able to design and implement at least two low-tech, presence-focused strategies, such as personalized video messages or asynchronous "hallway moments", to strengthen relational connection in their digital or hybrid classrooms.