Studying at Bank Street is a relational endeavor. Creating relationships online requires the capacity to create community, and we do not refer to our online programs as “distance learning” because we work very deliberately to create an interactive community. From the moment you enter Bank Street, we introduce ourselves through video, get to know each other’s workspaces, engage in small group discussions about our hopes and goals, and think about what it means to be a Bank Street student. Your voice will matter deeply as we come together as a community.
An essential aspect of learning at Bank Street is engagement. Stepping into your learner’s stance with confidence and contributing to the learning of your classmates is expected. We do not believe that the activities and experiences that your instructors will offer are one-way streets. Your stories, your identities, and your needs as a learner and as an evolving professional are all parts of the learning experience online at Bank Street.
The essence of a Bank Street education requires a willingness to ask questions, offer perspectives, learn from everyone in the community, and find the joy inherent in being a student.
In our online courses, you will also see the essence of the Bank Street Credo—the artistic spirit in multimedia assignments and activities, the flexibility and creativity of faculty and students embracing change, the intellectual curiosity that makes our world a laboratory that keeps us “ever as learners.” When you go into our online spaces, whether synchronous or asynchronous, you will see the multiple ways that faculty support you while you “work, unafraid and efficiently, in a world of new needs, new problems, and new ideas.”
What experience have you already had online? What did you find inspiring about those experiences? What are your expectations for learning online at Bank Street? We’d love to hear your thoughts.
View Online Programs in Teaching and Learning and Leadership in Education