Introduction
Late last year, a bulb-tipped virus cell named coronavirus began its journey around the world. People were infected, revealing tell-tale symptoms like coughing, fever, joint pain, and chills. The number of people infected, when viewed by a graph, shot off the top of the page like a rocket. Then people started dying, especially older ones. By the first of May this year, three and a half million people were infected, one million recovered, and 250,000 died. Life as we know it was turned upside down.
Education immediately took one of the biggest upsets in history. Ninety percent of schools around the world were shuttered and children of all ages learned by some form of homeschooling. First elementary schools, then high schools, and finally college campuses turned to online teaching. Desktops, laptops, and tablets soon replaced pen and pencil.
Turning to Distance Learning
Distance learning soon became the norm, and gradually students became fluent in Skype, FaceTime, Google Classroom, and Zoom. They all shared the same basic premise. Teachers and students looked and listened to each other via computer screens instead of face-to-face in a classroom.
LLI Adapts
Bard College was no exception, and quickly Bard LLI was faced with the same dilemma. Adapt online education or sit back and wait for this pandemic to end. Fortunately, the LLI Online Task Force quickly formed and its team members sat down to figure out if SummerFest 2020 could be a reality. We will soon know if it will work, but if it doesn’t, it won’t be for lack of trying.
Presenters and members were asked if they would make LLI part of sequestered life in June and many said yes. President-elect Nanci Kryzak reports that 82% of members polled said they were interested in taking LLI courses online. Twelve presenters for nine courses said they would give it a go. Suddenly, an online version of the traditional June program seemed like it might work. We will know in a few weeks how many of us want to attend and by the end of June, we can measure its success.
Presenters' perspective
Jon Bowermaster, world adventurer and National Geographic contributor, already had Bard teaching experience, and was eager to adapt it to LLI SummerFest. “I have a feeling,” he said, “that sophisticated LLI members will ask even more questions than their younger counterparts.” Jon is giving his “Presents” class first period.
Anique Taylor, having some online teaching under her belt, said she was surprised her Zoom classes delivered much of the intimacy and collaborative behavior of the classroom. “Poetry is a personal, emotional, and creative subject. You would think that face-to-face workshops would be the only method to successfully share thoughts and feelings. But distance learning is more successful than I imagined.”
addressing Concerns
Anique is especially concerned about security, after reading the reports of Zoom’s trials and tribulations. Fortunately, the company responded quickly and effectively, and so far the platform seems bullet-proof.
Tim Allenbrook, whose expertise is architectural restoration, says his many drawings and graphic elements fit nicely into online teaching. He is slightly concerned about stage fright, due to Zoom’s “television” approach, but says that will probably be easy to overcome as he rehearses his popular class
Meeting Expectations
Visual presenters like Chuck Mishaan and Gary Miller are grateful that Zoom can convey the sound and visual content at the base of their classes. “Online learning like YouTube has grown exponentially,” says Chuck, “and has been the go-to channel on computers, so LLI’s adaptation of Zoom is simply a more private medium, well suited to our member’s expectations.”
SummerFest online will soon open its electronic doors. We are all elated and can’t wait to experience the pluses and minuses of Zoom classes. Hopefully the pluses will win.
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