Ocean Onliners (Elizabeth Sanli, Memorial University)

As universities attempt to turn away from the remote emergency instruction of 2020 and return to seat-based classes, here at Wired Ivy we’re taking a decidedly contrarian approach. Since everyone else seems to be talking about a return to campus, we’re trading the Ivory Tower and for the deep blue sea.

The Marine Institute at Memorial University - Newfoundland and Labrador’s University offers undergraduate and graduate Maritime Studies programs intentionally designed to serve working adults who are far from any of the institution’s five land-based campuses. Online courses don’t get much more remote than a ship in the middle of an ocean. 

But as our guest, Dr. Elizabeth Sanli, explains, geographically distant doesn’t have to mean students are learning in isolation. Liz is more than qualified to make that claim… she’s a self-identified learning geek who has experienced both sides of the online education experience, as an instructor AND as a student.