Zoom University: USD announces its continuation of hybrid learning for Spring 2021
Zoom University: USD announces its continuation of hybrid learning for Spring 2021
Emma Valdiserri / Assistant News Editor
USD’s fall semester is coming to an end, and the university has announced that Spring 2021 will be held as a combination of hybrid and remote learning environments –– the teaching model adopted this past September. This implies certain classes will be taught on campus while others will continue in the remote learning setting, dependent on the course and the professor. As the nation faces its third wave of COVID-19 outbreaks, USD promises to monitor state and county guidelines for any regulation changes that could arise over the coming months.
The announcement, sent via email to the USD community on Oct. 19, stated the “Information on the instructional mode for each class will be made available to students through the ‘course search’ feature on the Student Portal by mid-November.” For students who have already registered, the instructional mode should be reflected on their schedules.
USD is far from the first university to settle on another hybrid semester. Similar to USD, universities such as Carnegie Mellon and Point Loma Nazarene University are combining online and hybrid learning environments. However, many schools across the country are refraining from hybrid learning, strictly adhering to an online curriculum. Due to the uncertainty of the pandemic and an available vaccine, institutions are hesitant to manage in-person instruction. SDSU, along with California State University’s 23 campuses have announced the majority of their classes will remain online for the spring.
USD professors teaching in the hybrid model will have an intricate setup of cameras and microphones in their respective classrooms, designed to provide a coherent learning environment for students attending class in person or via Zoom.
Charissa Noble, Ph.D., a professor in the music department, is currently teaching a seven-student hybrid course and has commented on USD’s ability to conduct hybrid classes.
“I think because USD is small and has a beautiful campus, I think we can take advantage of those things and have more hybrid classes,” Noble said. “I think we know a lot about how to stay safe and I really trust that USD is following the CDC guidelines and county recommendations. As I’ve gone to campus, I’ve felt like they’ve taken a lot of helpful precautions.”
Since mid-March, the term “Zoom University” has made quite the name for itself across the country, proving to have various effects on the USD community.
“I am seeing a high level of depression and anxiety that I think is related to the online experience,” Noble said. “I don’t think we’re meant to learn this way as human beings. So my desire to meet on campus is also really rooted in a lot of my feminist ideology about the importance of the body and bodily experience. I’m really hoping that I will be able to teach a hybrid class (next semester) because I know we can do it safely with small class sizes.”
Senior undergraduate Lena Belvin is conducting research on campus and is enrolled in a hybrid course for computational physics, alongside attending her regular Zoom classes.
“I’ve done online college courses before coming to USD, so I know online classes can be done well, I know I can learn from them,” Belvin said. “But I’m not learning from most of my online classes this year because professors didn’t get sufficient training on how to teach them. The only ones who are doing well are the ones going above and beyond in learning how to do that.”
Students itching to leave their homes in hopes to Zoom and study elsewhere can reserve study rooms at USD’s Copley Library, the Law Library, and the university’s recently renovated Learning Commons. For the upcoming spring semester, students will also have the option as to whether or not they want to attend any of their in-person courses.
Belvin has met with her 14-person hybrid class in a designated room on campus every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday since the beginning of the semester. “Being able to go in person, and (the professor) has office hours outside in a courtyard, is amazing. Like it’s the only reason I’m getting through this class. I really appreciate how hard he works to keep it hybrid because I have many professors who have that option available, but how far are they gonna go to make it work?” Belvin added.
While hybrid classes have the advantage of meeting in person, the necessity to be on campus has the potential to disturb scheduled Zoom classes.
“It’s difficult for me to get to school for my first Zoom class at 7:30 a.m. just so I can be there in time for my in-person class,” Belvin added. “A lot of the time I just leave halfway through my online class right before my in-person class. And then having to follow COVID-19 procedures on campus takes time.”
Faculty and students attending classes on campus this semester are required to have their temperatures checked before entering any buildings and must socially distance while wearing face coverings. This will likely continue in January once the spring semester begins.
Although it’s safe to say most of USD’s community wishes to be back on campus in the spring, the university and all its members are learning to adapt and understand the prioritization of health and safety. The pandemic has taken its toll on all educational institutions and while remote and hybrid learning environments may not be the most desirable, they offer many opportunities and technological resources for faculty and students to use as the virus continues its unyielding uncertainty.