Can you give us some insight into how students are feeling about the
changes to their education?
When the transition first began, it caused a lot of panic, anxiety, confusion, and overall
frustration among students. Many of them had no idea how an online course would
work, professors were still figuring out how to teach online at the same time. It
was a mess. Now, some of them like having online coursework because of other demands
in their lives, but others really miss that on campus teaching method. At this
moment, there’s still a lot of anxiety around the uncertainty of what will happen next
semester, because things are still evolving every day.
Please tell our readers how you have been pushing forward to provide
the best experience possible to your students during these tough times?
I have been using an online technology to allow my students to schedule their own
appointments with me and to see when I am available. When they do so, they have
the option of choosing a phone meeting or a webcam conversation with me. I will
meet students any way they are most comfortable. Sometimes, after a phone conversation,
if there was a lot of information provided, I offer to E-mail them a summary
of what we discussed so they don’t have to try to remember it.
Is there anything we the public can do to help make you feel safer?
Wear a damn mask and practice social distancing. I know it’s been beaten in our
heads at this point, but these two practices together seem to be working to keep
our COVID cases down. Also, please continue to stay home as much as possible. I
am someone who is considered a “high risk” for COVID, and if I do contract it, it will
be deadly for both me and my mom. So, just respect other people’s wishes about
their own safety too. Remember the world is bigger than just you.
Happy Vibes: Is there anything you want to say to the
Connect Magazine readers?
Yes! Thank you for reading Connect Magazine and continuing to support us. Please
be safe out there. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your families during
this crazy time!
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