VICTORIA WHITE, NORMAN, OKLA., JUNIOR
MAJOR: POLITICAL SCIENCE, CHINESE, INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
My transition to online learning was relatively easy. Most of my professors were preparing for the switch to online classes and had made announcements in class and via email on how they would stay connected with us. All of my professors took the transition well, too, many embracing the few resources available to them. While some had trouble with using certain functions on Zoom, they were not afraid to ask us students for help.
I think the hardest part about transitioning to online school is losing the routine I am used to, as well as the support that comes with seeing professors, faculty and my peers face-to-face. I have noticed many professors struggling in this area, as well. It is harder to have discussion and active dialogue when we cannot read body language or hear clearly what our peers have to say. Further, distractions associated with using an at-home work space cause disruptions in the cohesion of our class. I have done better with online learning when professors use Zoom during our regular class period versus straying from the schedule and choosing to teach via PowerPoint or document uploads.
My Environmental Justice and Global Cities professor, Emma Colven, has gone above and beyond her role as a professor during this time. She has managed to connect course material to current events as well as being a friend, mentor and community builder for our class. She makes sure to let us know our class is a space to communicate and find hope, even in the midst of immense tragedy. She is honest and available to us whenever we need, and creates a space where each student feels valued. She has sent us multiple resources, links, articles and tips for making it through this tough period.
However, I am nervous for how the remainder of the semester will continue. Specifically, for both of my Chinese courses, in which we receive the course material in PowerPoint or PDF documents. We have taken two tests and a quiz online which were easy to manage, yet hard to fully engage. Without hearing my professor speak the new vocabulary dialogues for the Advanced Chinese course or watch her practice the brush strokes during our Chinese Calligraphy course, it has been challenging. However, with the large class size and complications explaining such intricate topics, even in person, it would be far too difficult to teach either course via Zoom.
In my newly discovered free time, I have been training my new puppy, Maverick. He has been learning many tricks, discovering new places outside and taking many much- needed walks. I have started two new books that are part of Reese Witherspoon’s online book club, which are very good! I have also enjoyed using this time to connect with friends and family through deeper conversation and positive intentional time.
To conclude, I enjoy the amount of reflection this time is giving me, but I miss seeing my friends and professors. My favorite part about my classes is meeting with my peers and finding new things to collaborate on. It feels strange to sit in front of a laptop screen alone knowing the rest of my friends are doing the exact same thing in their place of quarantine. However, I know now how grateful I am for the small day-to-day interactions that truly create and enrich my OU experience. Even from their at-home offices, my professors are able to represent, strengthen and grow our OU community.