Is anyone finding teaching online very lonely?

[lonelylecturer]

Obviously I recognised there are far bigger things going on to worry about in the world right now but I just wondered if anyone else is beginning to feel really lonely teaching remotely?

I lecture in an FE college and have been teaching by zoom since Lockdown 2 in November as I teach adults and we were directed not to come into the college.

It was fine to begin with but I'm gradually realising I'm becoming more and more lonely. Teaching is weird anyway as you're the only person in the room performing that one particular role but I love having colleagues to bounce experiences off in the staff room and now that is all gone.

I feel I am supporting lots of students who are all struggling with the lockdown and that feeling of camaraderie and support from colleagues is just gone now.

I rarely get at chance to schedule in formal meetings with my colleagues as we all have vocational jobs as well to finding time when we are free is difficult and saved only for important issues.

Just feeling isolated I guess and wondered how others felt.

Yes extremely. The only people I talk to are teenagers whose faces I can't see (cameras off at my school) who don't answer my questions. I'm finding it really soul destroying.

@ValancyRedfern

Yes extremely. The only people I talk to are teenagers whose faces I can't see (cameras off at my school) who don't answer my questions. I'm finding it really soul destroying.

Sorry to here that valancy.

I feel lucky that I have adult learners who can all engage with cameras on.

But I work with teenagers in my vocational role (children's counsellor) and am finding that extremely hard online.

Thanks. I teach a practical subject as well so without interaction its pretty much pointless! Spending today trying to plan things which will engage and wake up the kids. I agree with you about missing the staffroom so much as well. I'm a one person dept so have practically no day to day interaction with other teachers without bumping into people in the corridors or (pre-covid) the staffroom.

I am very fortunate that we can work in school so I am doing that. There are a few colleagues in so at least I see some different people/can talk to them.

My NQT comes in 4 days a week too as he lives with a flatmate who is a shift worker so is alone a lot.

I think I'd go stir crazy if I had to teach from home (even though I am married and have a son) because I need to see colleagues and a different set of 4 walls.