Central New Mexico Community College issued the following announcement on April 14.
Some CNM classes were easy to move online. Others, not so much.
Case in point was Melanie Will-Cole’s Geology lab. Like other science classes, her lab was designed so that students could touch and interact with materials as a way to learn the content. When the COVID-19 pandemic forced her to move online, she had to get creative.
“I knew this was going to happen as other schools started to close and I told my students I was going to do everything in my power to keep our class as normal and effective as possible,” Melanie says.
Luckily, there were plenty of tools she could turn to. First, Melanie downloaded Zoom, taught herself how to use it, then sent out a multi-page primer on Zoom for her students that included photos and tutorials.
Next, she tracked down a computer program that allowed her to run simulated geology experiments. If the students needed to study how crystallization worked, there was a program for that.
Finally, she gathered everyone via a Zoom meeting, and started holding the labs. She set up Zoom so there were individual breakouts and students could work in small groups. As they ran through the simulations and had questions, students would raise their hands and Melanie would enter their Zoom group to help.
She conducted a Geology test the same way. Everyone gathered in a Zoom meeting during the test and Melanie answered questions when they popped up. Students then submitted their tests via email, or could even do the work by hand and send a photo of their results.
“In some ways, the test was even easier,” she says. “The students didn’t have to drive to school or find parking but still got face-to-face interaction.”
To ensure students could meet with her outside of class, Melanie extended her office hours. Then, she opened a Zoom meeting during those hours and students could pop in if they needed. For her Geology lecture class, all the students had to create their final projects in PowerPoint. Then each one shared their screen during a Zoom meeting and gave a presentation.
Of course Melanie is looking forward to going back to in-person classes when the dangers of the pandemic pass. But she’s also trying to learn what lessons she can from the online experience. She says it’s been helpful to go back and watch herself teach—she leaves a recording of her Zoom classes online for 24 hours and has had time to reflect on her teaching style. And she says she’s been wildly impressed with how the School of Math, Science & Engineering (MSE) has come together to support each other. She’s helped other instructors and received tremendous support from leadership.
“I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been asked, ‘what do you need, how can we help?’” she says. “MSE is truly an amazing group of individuals.”
Origina source can be found here.
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