Bret Devereaux

Twitter hive mind, can you let me know if this functions to convey to students that I want them to feel comfortable asking questions however they need to before I post it? "Hi y'all! Happy Monday-before-it-all-starts! One of the things about this semester is that communication,

even more than normal, matters. Hyflex classes are a new way of teaching for the faculty, but more importantly a new way of taking classes for all of you. The mixed nature means you'll have to spend more time online, engaging with material in new ways--you'll need to take the

time to do the readings, think through them on your own, seek out engagement with teachers and classmates, and, most of all, be willing to reach out when things don't make sense. And that's not only ok, that's GREAT, because that's how we learn.

Now, I know that asking for help, in any way, can be intimidating. And whatever I say about not being intimidated by me (seriously, I'm a balding goofball who shouldn't intimidate a fly, let alone you, but I get it) doesn't change the weirdness of emailing or calling or Zooming

Seriously. I take my job very seriously, but my job is to provide you with information, guidance, feedback, discussion, and the chance to learn. I do not take formality seriously, I don't want you to worry about your phrasing and whether you have struck the proper tone--I care