Law School in a Time of a Global Pandemic
on some days . The interruptions , be it the kids or the family pet begging to be let outside . The sometimes-spotty internet connection . The audio feedbacks . The all-too-familiar refrain from every Zoom room out there , captured in these three simple words : “ You are muted !”
Here is what surprised me though . Without skipping a beat , the student-advocate continued his cross-examination , and the witness continued answering his questions . Neither seemed frazzled by the interruption . Neither appeared frustrated . They just kept going . And that , I thought , is what learning in a time of pandemic looks like on most days – demonstrating flexibility ; exercising patience ; showing compassion ; giving each other ( and ourselves ) some grace .
By Denitsa R . Mavrova Heinrich
Professor Nikola Datzov speaks with students about the standard of care for medical malpractice during the first-year Torts class .
As my colleague , Professor Michelle Phillips , put it : “ Online teaching requires us to extend grace to our students and for them to reciprocate with us . I have loved having a glimpse into the personal lives of my students , seeing the occasional pet or child make a cameo . Every time a computer microphone echoes , video cameras stop working , or internet buffers , the whole class enjoys a tangible reminder that we are all doing our best to navigate a global pandemic while trying to maintain some sense of normalcy .”
Two weeks ago , I was teaching my Trial Advocacy class over Zoom . The topic was cross-examination . We had been at it for about an hour and a half , when the door to the “ courtroom ” swung wide open , and my five-year-old burst in to ask if he could watch an episode on TV . Under normal circumstances , I may have been horrified about my toddler ’ s interruption . But these were not normal circumstances .
With less than a day ’ s notice , I had to move class from in-person to online instruction given my husband ’ s COVID-19 diagnosis and my exposure to it . He had left to isolate at the farm while the kids and I quarantined at home , waiting for our own test results . Yet , here I was , in the midst of trying to wrap my head around it all , teaching a three-hour class from home , with two young children under the same roof .
Of course , nothing about this pandemic , and the adjustments we have had to make as a result of it , is “ normal ” in the pre-COVID-19 sense of the word . Consider what being a law student , taking in-person classes this fall looks like , for example . Wearing a face covering , you enter the law school through what has been designated as the only entrance for the building . You look at the elevator ’ s sign : “ LIMIT TWO PEOPLE .” Stairs it is , you decide . As you walk through the hallways , you feel the quiet . You enter the classroom through the door with the “ ENTRANCE ONLY ” sign and take a disinfectant wipe from the sanitizing bucket by the door . You find your assigned seat and wipe the seating area carefully . You get
I had gathered the kids around earlier in the day for a “ talk ” about the dos and don ’ ts while I teach from home . I had left my toddler with what I believed to be very clear instructions : unless you are hurt or the house is on fire , do not interrupt me while I am teaching . That afternoon , I put on a movie for him , and off I went upstairs to teach my class . But , as it turns out , Disney does not make three-hour-long movies ( it should !). And so , once the movie was over , here he was , storming in in the middle of class and demanding more screen time because , and I quote , he was “ bored .”
This , I thought , is what teaching in a time of pandemic looks like
Signs throughout the law school remind everyone to follow social distancing guidelines and “ Be social , from a 6-foot wingspan .”
6 THE GAVEL