LXD Remote Teaching and Learning Confessionals 2020
True life I lived through COVID19 as a learner/ educator
Week 1–2: Interviews + Synthesis
How can approaches for studio-based teaching and learning be designed to support effective instruction in remote and hybrid contexts?
I have been so thrilled to be a research assistant over the summer for Stacie. This summer project feels like a continuation of being her teaching assistant. Having taken and assisted in Learning Methods I feel like this summer opportunity is a real case application of the wonderful class. It has been super awarding listening to students and instructors get at the heart of some core issues. and really trying to get at the response of students and educators. For the past 2 weeks, the research team has been actively going on interviews
Within these interviews, the questions were simple. We simply asked the students and educators of design what their hopes and aspirations were, their fear and concerns, what worked well, and what didn't. Questions are listed below.
What do you believe worked well while [teaching/learning] remotely the second half of the spring semester?
What do you believe DIDN’T work well while [teaching/learning] remotely the second half of the spring semester?
What tools/approaches did you (or would like to) leverage in your courses that you believe are particularly useful?
What are your fear/concerns in regards to the fall term? [when writing to seniors/MPS students phrase as, “If you were continuing, what would you fears/concerns be…”]
What are [“would be” for seniors] your hopes/aspirations for the upcoming semester?
I feel like I have spoken a lot about my experience of being a student during the pandemic, but these interviews really highlighted key insights I have never thought of before. It was so nice to hear first hand what other people experienced from laptop screens far away, or even right here in Pittsburgh.
Some of the main things I heard within these interviews, was how although moving remote instruction created some obstacles and barriers, it also created new opportunities and even more time. For educators though, time seemed to escape them. Their entire focus had to be on teaching and how to teach most effectively. This interfered with research and writing. Time was a crucial theme that came up again and again.
Additionally, community and the loss of or anxiety of losing was another theme that came up. How do we best meet new people online? How do educators facilitate both a physical and digital space?
After each interview I went on, 7 total, I wrote notes and then transcribed them onto Miro. It has been fun to see all the members on the team write out their insights to compare and contrast what was said, heard, and maybe even forgotten. I am excited to see how far this study goes. I see the real potential on a publication/learning modules for the future of learning.
