“…all programming has shifted temporarily to an online mode. Though this has its challenges, our creative professors and staff have embraced this format and are working hard to maintain their connection with each and every student.”
Dr. John C. Bowling, president of Olivet Nazarene University in his March 24 address to the school’s undergraduate students.
Talking Through the Transition
One of the main challenges that Olivet and colleges across the country have encountered is that of changing communication; professors had to figure out how their face-to-face classes would translate to an online learning environment.
At Olivet, faculty was broken up into different transition teams to help with this process, according to Dr. Lisa McGrady, the Dean of Assessment Teaching and Learning. Having had prior experience teaching online courses, McGrady was involved in training professors in online instruction.
“We had a week…to figure out how it was going to work,” McGrady said.
All of the professors at Olivet took the week after the scheduled spring break to meet and create a plan for the remainder of the semester. Throughout this time, the school kept students updated through emails, social media, and frequent updates on its website.
Professors also made a point to keep in contact with students through emails and announcements on Canvas, the online platform where students can turn in assignments and communicate with their professors and peers.
Despite the obstacles, professors at Olivet found ways to make their courses work and continue their students’ education. While Olivet has been utilizing various online resources for years, more educational platforms have been discovered and taken advantage of during this time.
Navigating the New Normal
Dr. McGrady has been teaching one class this semester, and she discusses the challenges and benefits she has faced while transitioning the course online, along with the types of resources she is using to enable to transition to go as smoothly as possible.
Applause for Accommodation
In addition to the sources that McGrady has been utilizing, many companies whose resources college students frequently use have offered free or discounted access to their programs or materials. In a March 16 article from Inside Higher Ed , companies are accommodating to students’ needs during this trying time.
Adobe, in conjunction with university’s information technology departments, has provided free access to the Adobe Creative Cloud to students who previously depended on school computer labs for it. Access to the Creative Cloud programs allows professors to keep assignments in the schedule that may have otherwise had to be deleted, if students could not access the correct software.
A company called VitalSource is working with textbook publishers to grant free access to their materials as well. Students are now able to access the textbooks that they may have left at school or lost access to. This enables professors to provide consistent education to their students, despite the change in location.
Zoom, the video conferencing software, has always had a free plan. This has led many college students and professors to host classes and have team meetings on Zoom.
Click on the company names below to view each company’s full statement.
While the ways in which professors communicate with their students have gained a different look, learning at colleges in the United States have continued on.
To read more about colleges’ transition to online format, click here.
To read more about professors’ personal lives throughout this time, click here.
To read more about the changing course content, click here.
