Corona vs. Curriculum
In the wake of the COVID 19 panemic, professor Mark Bishop is adjusting from being in class to being online. As a basic video instructor his focus is on pre-production, production, and post-production work. Bishop helps his students understand the basics of camera work, audio techniques, lighting, and editing.
According to The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), educational institutions are experiencing “nationwide closures, impacting over 90% of the world’s student population.” Specifically, it has impacted the student population at Olivet Nazarene University (ONU).
With a “student-to-faculty ratio of 17:1” faculty is not only effected by the epidemic, but the students have concerns as well.
We only had about a five day span to get all of our classes online.“
Mark Bishop, Basic Video professor, speaks on his experience with teaching a class during this time.
While ONU students were granted an additional week of spring break Professors like Bishop used those few days to create an entirely new curriculum.
How was this possible? Possibly with little sleep and God himself, Bishop said, but some of the factors he had to keep in mind was creating assignments that would be attainable for students at home.
Without microphones, filming cameras, accessibility to certain locations, and a low amount of actors, Bishop had to make sure students could complete the assignments with all the information he taught from the beginning of the semester.
Desmond McDonald, was one of many students in the basic video who found himself prepared for any new adjustments made in the syllabus. Thanks to Bishop, the amount of experience Desmond received in class was enough to carry him through the rest of the semester all at home with little to no equipment.
In the article From Classrooms to Online Benedict Dubravec explains how teaching in the beginning of 2020 to now almost seems like night and day.
Since the coronavirus outbreak Bishop went from grading group projects to grading dozens of individual assignments. He went from lecturing about professional filming cameras to lecturing about the best cell phone techniques. Nonetheless, he still makes an effort to motivates his classes through weekly devotionals and with an uplifted spirit despite his set backs.
Bishop’s ability to quickly adjust to the changes has been a crucial part of his students success.
Personal Success Story
I am one of the students in Bishop’s basic video class and can attest to feeling anxious at the beginning but then feeling supported, especially in the department of communication community.
Though this has not been an easy time for most, the pandemic has allowed many of us to cherish the things we have taken for granted, such as in-class lecturing, teaching, and learning.
Professors have also not let being in quarantine stop them from celebrating their students with the annual ONU COMMunity Banquet via Zoom.
For me, it seems like with the excessive amount of work and grading the professors are truly the ones to celebrate. Basic video isn’t the easiest class to teach completely online, but Bishop made it just as informative, creative, and challenging as if his students were all back in class again.
If you or a teacher you know are in need of support during Covid-19 please visit the teacher support page on facinghistory.org.
March 13, 2020
Olivet informed students and staff that due to the coronavirus classes will be held online.
March 16, 2020
Faculty returned from Spring Break as planned and made changes to create an online curriculum
March 23, 2020
Classes were now in session online
For more information on how ONU is handling the coronavirus outbreak: click here
To see how professors’ personal lives are maintaining throughout this time: click here.
To see how the ONU professors is managing their online communication: click here
To see how each department has adapted to this transition : click here
