Human-Centered Learning Matters More Than Ever

The Breakdown

“We’re really recalibrating the ways in which we think about the importance of human connection,” said Dr. Ford, who described the shift as a post-pandemic signal. “Digital learning is here to stay, but not at the expense of relationships.” She emphasized that students—especially those balancing caregiving, work or parenting—want flexible formats, but also “real human touch points with their faculty.”

Dr. Zone added that “people want to feel connected regardless of how they’re learning,” and that the modality matters less than the sense of belonging and support students feel. She stressed that faculty need to use digital tools to support meaningful engagement and that designing for connection should be prioritized over simply delivering content.

Creating human-centered learning environments doesn’t mean abandoning digital tools—it means using them intentionally. As Tyton Partners’ Catherine Shaw shared, even asynchronous teaching can foster connection. “I can’t tell you how valuable it was to me when I would hold office hours and I could see a few faces like The Brady Bunch. That made me really happy.” She emphasized that platforms like learning management systems can help foster connection by creating spaces for interaction and syncing in-person and digital experiences.

To further build engagement and connection, Dr. Ford encouraged institutions to explore hybrid pedagogical models and invest in faculty development focused on relational teaching strategies. “Administrators should be really incentivizing faculty development,” she said, “and thinking about platform support that enables synchronous and asynchronous design with equal intentionality.”