From Isolation to Interaction: Reimagining Technology for Human Connection

Zauyah Waite, Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students; Title IX Coordinator, Franklin Pierce University

Zauyah Waite, Ph.D., serves as Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students at Franklin Pierce University. A seasoned higher education leader, she focuses on student-centric engagement, support services and resources and creating inclusive learning environments that foster connection, belonging and wellbeing.

When the COVID-19 pandemic swept across campuses in 2020, higher education was forced to rapidly reinvent how it engaged, connected and taught students. Almost overnight, digital tools once considered optional became essential lifelines. Zoom replaced lecture halls, Google Docs became the shared whiteboard and platforms like Canvas, Blackboard and Moodle transformed into virtual classrooms. Beyond academics, these same technologies powered new and transfer student orientations, student government meetings, campus elections and virtual events—ensuring that campus life continued even when the campus itself was closed.

The era of emergency remote learning revealed something remarkable: when used with intention, technology could democratize education. It made learning accessible across time zones, created flexible opportunities for participation and opened virtual doors for students who had previously been left on the margins—those balancing work, caregiving, disabilities, or social anxiety. In short, technology has become an equalizer.

But now, years later, we face a different challenge. The very tools that kept us connected during isolation have, in some ways, made reconnection harder.

The Post-Pandemic Paradox: Students Are ‘Connected’ but Lonely

Today’s students arrive on campus fluent in technology and fluent in isolation. They can collaborate in a group chat but struggle to sustain a difficult in-person conversation. They can post reflections on a discussion board but hesitate to raise a hand in class.

“As higher education moves forward, we must resist the temptation to treat technology as either a problem or a solution. It is simply a tool; and like any tool, its impact depends on how we use it.”

The pandemic didn’t create this social disconnection, but it certainly deepened it. As we’ve returned to in-person learning, educators and student affairs professionals are realizing that our next frontier isn’t more tech innovation, but it’s human reintegration. The goal is no longer to digitize everything. It is to leverage digital tools to strengthen the human experience; to make face-to-face moments more meaningful, not less frequent.

Tech That Bridges, Not Replaces

To achieve this balance, institutions are rethinking how digital tools can support engagement in physical spaces. For example:

• Interactive classroom technologies such as Poll Everywhere, Kahoot and Top Hat allow shy students to contribute anonymously during live discussions, creating equitable participation that encourages verbal engagement later.

• Learning management systems (LMS) can now extend the classroom community beyond lectures—students can post discussion questions, share articles and continue conversations sparked in-person.

• Collaboration platforms like Miro and Padlet create continuity across formats by enabling students to brainstorm ideas visually during group projects, both online and in-person.

• Assistive technologies such as real-time captioning, screen readers and immersive audio tools have made learning not only more accessible but more personalized, helping students engage according to their needs.

• Career network for instance Handshake connects students, educational institutions and employers with career discoveries and opportunities.

When used thoughtfully, these platforms don’t replace the classroom experience, but they amplify it. They help students walk into a lecture already connected, informed and ready to participate.

The Role of Student Affairs: Demonstrating Connection Again

Beyond the classroom, technology has also transformed student life and support systems.

The pandemic prompted universities to develop virtual advising, online counseling, tele-health and AI-assisted resource guides. Those tools remain vital for access and convenience—but the next step is integration. Student Affairs teams are using these platforms to draw students back into community, not keep them behind screens. For example:

• Online event calendars that allow digital sign-ups are being paired with face-to-face ‘meet and greet’ experiences.

• Digital housing apps lets students apply for housing, choose rooms or roommates and report maintenance issues—all through an intuitive mobile platform.

• Mobile apps that deliver safety alerts or wellness resources are now including interactive feedback and community features, connecting students to real people and spaces.

• Digital mentoring platforms help match students to faculty and peers, who then meet regularly in person to form a genuine connection.

The through-line is simple: technology should invite students into community, not replace it.

Rebalancing the Equation

Technology once saved higher education from isolation. Now, it must help us heal from it. The next generation of innovation isn’t about more apps or automation—it’s about human-centered integration. When used thoughtfully, technology can make classrooms more inclusive, campuses more connected and learning more alive.

If the pandemic taught us anything, it’s that learning doesn’t stop when we leave the classroom, and connection doesn’t begin when we log on. The future of education depends on our ability to use technology — not just to reach students, but to rekindle what makes learning deeply human.

As higher education moves forward, we must resist the temptation to treat technology as either a problem or a solution. It is simply a tool; and like any tool, its impact depends on how we use it. Today’s students don’t need another app to remind them of what they’re missing; they need educators, staff and mentors who use technology to create meaningful, people-centered experiences. They need connection that extends beyond Wi-Fi signals and screen time.

Technology gave us resilience during isolation. Now, we must allow it to give us renewal.

Learning Management

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