Transitions to Remote Learning in the Era of COVID-19

Where We Find Ourselves

If you are like me, perhaps at first you thought that things would not get as bad as in other parts of the world concerning the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). How quickly my own understanding of the situation changed as I read the reports coming from colleagues in Italy and other countries. As my understanding evolved in this fluid, shifting time, I learned several things: 

• It is important to distance ourselves socially at this time to prevent everyone from becoming sick and over-taking the healthcare systems in our countries. (Here is a link to social distancing, explained.)
• It is unclear how long this will take. This makes it even more stressful when there is uncertainty. So, let's communicate clearly and effectively, and let each other know what we know and what we are still learning. That's the best we can do. 
• We all need help adjusting. All of us. (Here is a related blog post on my general "Behavioral Geek" page about self-regulation ideas during this time.) 

So, my hope is to provide just an introduction to thinking about a transition to online modalities in our courses. It is certainly neither complete nor perfect; however, it is a start. Much like some of you may find when making this switch. That's all right - everyone is in this together. With common goals and good intentions, we can work this out.

First Things First
Remember, you are a valued instructor. You teach the course that you teach because you have some expertise and/or quality that is valued by your institution. You designed your course the way you did most likely because it would work out well for everyone involved. So, that is still your goal. With that in mind, please remember the following:

• You do not have to be perfect. This is impossible. You need to simply work with your department, college/school, or university to figure out the best way to do this. Just because Professor X is teaching with full functionality with respect to a learning management system, Zoom, YouTube videos, and so forth, this does not mean you need to do so. However, if you want to try out something new, you can probably ask Professor X. 
• The course does not have to be perfect. Courses rarely are perfect. Ask any professor or student, and I'm sure you will hear a variety of responses. Now that we are shifting from some completely Face-to-Face (F2F) formats to remote modalities, simply keep the goals of your course at the forefront of your planning. What is in the course description? Let that lead you to make decisions. 

Consider Yourself and Your Students
As you contemplate how to provide your course remotely, remember what your responsibilities to the course and to yourself are during this time. Whether full-time or part-time, you juggle many responsibilities. In teaching a course, there are hours per week that you devote to that endeavor, as well as preparation, grading, etc. You also have other professional and personal responsibilities. So, mark out the time to devote in a meaningful way to helping make this happen.

Remember, too, that your students have both a responsibility to their studies and to their personal obligations. For all of us, these obligations may have undergone a Big Shift related to remote learning, teaching, work, and otherwise. Some students, or their families, may be undergoing historic shifts in how they live, work, etc.

Also, just as faculty members may have varying degrees of familiarity and experience with online learning, so too do students. So, just as you might be learning some new ways to do things, remember that your students will need an introduction to this new way too. You can help them through this by thinking about how to deliver your course remotely, and how to be clear in communicating and showing them how to do it. 

What Does This Mean?
At this point, you may be wondering how you will actually offer your course. This is a decision that you need to make, and it can involve various methods. Here are a few, depending on the level of familiarity that you and your students may have with online learning:

• No Familiarity: Consider the provision of instructions by email, and submission by either email or snail-mail. (This is important if some students do not have access to electronics. (See this post about Berea College, which serves a population of students who are not necessarily all able to afford the technology needed for an online delivery.) 
• Some Familiarity: Consider using a learning management system, such as Canvas, etc., that your institution uses to set up assignments for submission, and possible discussion groups. You could also provide online lectures that are in real-time using Zoom or a similar platform for real time (synchronous) lectures/discussions, or an uploaded video of your lecture to YouTube. You can check with your institutions' technology offices to obtain help with this. In this case, choose one or more option here.  
• Full Familiarity: If you have already been using these platforms, then consider adding chat rooms, discussion boards, online quizzes, and using any modality that makes sense to you. Don't rework your entire class, though. Make it something that transitions easily from your current mode of delivery into finishing the semester online.  Remember: Don't stress yourself or your students out even more!

A few final thoughts...
This is a time to communicate with your students. Let them know what you are doing, what steps you are going to take, and that you will send out the information when you have it. Remember that good teaching is about being clear, flexible, and compassionate. (For more on these tips of tips, see this article from the Chronicle of Higher Education.) 

We are in for a bumpy ride. Let's fasten our seatbelts, read the safety manual, and remember to look after ourselves and others. With common goals, good intentions, and a clear, compassionate plan, we will help everyone get through the rest of this semester. If we can do that, we will have become a little more resilient, and helped our students to do so as well.

Be safe. Be well. Also, let me know if there are any other topics you would like covered. I will do my best to do so in the coming days and week.  

D. E.  Crone-Todd, Ph.D.