Flower Darby, "The Joyful Online Teacher: Finding Our Fizz in Asynchronous Classes" (U Oklahoma Press, 2026)

In this episode of New Books in Education, host Stephen Pimper interviews Flower Darby, author of *The Joyful Online Teacher: Finding Our Fizz in Asynchronous Classes* (University of Oklahoma Press, 2026). Darby, a veteran educator with 30 years of experience across disciplines including psychology and jazz dance, shares her journey from skepticism to deep passion for asynchronous online teaching. She emphasizes the transformative potential of intentional, emotionally resonant teaching in online spaces—where students often feel isolated and unsupported. Drawing on emotion science and research, Darby outlines five core strategies: setting up courses for success, cultivating warmth and presence, building authentic connections, fostering productive emotions through meaningful tasks, and finishing strong with motivational design. Her insights are grounded in personal experience, including her own pursuit of a PhD in an asynchronous program, and real-world examples like having students create personal Social Security accounts to deepen engagement with policy content. The conversation underscores that small, thoughtful actions—like responding to emails with empathy and setting clear boundaries—can dramatically improve both student outcomes and instructor well-being. Darby’s central message is one of hope and balance: online teaching doesn’t have to be draining or impersonal. By investing time with purpose and presence, instructors can find joy and fulfillment in their work while creating more inclusive, engaging, and human-centered learning experiences. She challenges the myth that online teaching is inherently cold or disconnected, showing instead that with deliberate care, educators can spark real connection and lasting impact—even in the most asynchronous environments. The episode concludes with a powerful anecdote about a graduate student who felt seen and supported through a simple phone call, a moment that inspired Darby’s entire book and reaffirms the profound power of human connection in education.