Learning
Adapting to a New Learning Environment: Faculty Respond
As faculty and students adapt together to remote learning, we are inspired by the creativity and innovation of faculty across campus.
Here are a few examples of how even though the classroom environment may have changed, the essential Muskingum connection between faculty and students remains the same.
Be sure to also check out our story on how our performing arts faculty in Music and Theatre are bringing the studio, stage, and ensemble to their students remotely.
Dr. Kekoa Kaluhiokalani, Associate Professor of English and Coordinator of Arts and Humanities Study Abroad Programs, has made a four-point pledge to his students:
- I will continue to introduce you to new and challenging things. Despite the long-distance-ness of this current teaching situation, I plan to keep the focus on the wild, wonderful world of the arts and humanities.
- I will shape and continually adjust the assignments to fit the online format. There will be some trial and error, so if anything comes across as weird, let me know and I will fix it.
- I will keep the lines of communication open. I may not be able to answer your emails or DMs immediately, but I will get back to you as soon as I can. Also, let the forums and threads in the Discussion section be the place where you can be a bit more informal and share your observations.
- I am willing to listen. If anything is unclear or throws you off, let me know. I aim to make things understandable. Or if you're feeling unmotivated and grumpy, I am a wealth of unsolicited advice. And if you need recommendations for Netflix series or strongly-held opinions about the amazing-ness of Avatar: The Last Airbender, I have thoughts.
Under the guidance of Professor of English Dr. Jane Varley, this year’s English Department Internship students founded the literary Muskie Press. After publishing two poetry chapbooks in February, they pivoted their plans for a print fiction publication to an online project called “The Quarantine Diaries: The Muskie View on COVID-19.”
The History Department continued its Celebration of Women’s History Month virtually. In their teaching, they are using a wide variety of Microsoft Teams video chat discussions, narrated PowerPoints, YouTube videos, podcast interviews, short films and clips, online archival research, and analyses of music, lyrics, photos, and other original sources found online. Dr. Bil Kerrigan, Professor of History, performed several songs on his ukulele and Associate Professor of History Dr. Karen Dunak has been writing letters to her students about each of her course lessons. The history faculty are also providing multiple options for completing projects and assessments to accommodate the variety of technological resources students have available.
Associate Professor of Communication, WMCO Station Manager and Director of Broadcasting Dr. Lisa Marshall '03 is teaching her broadcasting students through video lectures, screen-sharing software and hardware audio production systems, and video chats. This week she is hosting a video chat with reporter/anchor Glenn Schuck, from 1010 WINS New York, the #1 news radio station in the country, sharing how he has adapted to reporting news from his home to keep the public informed. Orbit Media continues to program WMCO 90.7 and OrbitMediaOnline.com with pre-recorded talk shows and sports talk programs featuring student staffers remotely from home, live Muskingum Thursday Chapel Services and College Drive Presbyterian Church Sunday services, and ongoing news stories, updates, and interviews from those on campus and in New Concord.
Dr. Dinah Meyer, Associate Professor of Psychology, is posting daily “Minute with Dr. M” YouTube videos which provide tips for managing stress and maintaining mental health, which are available for viewing by everyone. For her courses, she is also posting her PowerPoint lecture on YouTube and has surveyed her students so she can better meet their individual needs. Her current "Disaster Psychology" course has unintentionally become a truly unique learning experience, with discussions focusing on panic, human resilience, risk perception, and heroism as they apply to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Nursing and Chemistry Departments collaborated to donate medical supplies to Genesis Hospital in Zanesville.
Science Division faculty are using a variety of technologies for their classes, including recording their lectures in voice and written word using Notability, producing videos demonstrating experimental techniques and providing students with sample data they can process remotely, and specialized online learning environments for classes such as Electronics and Physics.
Nursing has replaced clinical assignments in health care agencies with virtual simulation activities.
Dr. Joe Nowakoski, Professor of Economics, shared his perspective through local media on the potential economic impact of COVID-19 in the region
