Spring Term 2020: What to Say?
A note from department chair Susan Conrad (and some fun photos of the faculty and staff working from home)
Remember the last week of class in winter term? Most of the week we were still meeting face-to-face. If anyone had told me that by the start of spring term we would have our department ready to run entirely from our homes, I would have just laughed. In fact, I would have said one word to the idea of converting to remote teaching and learning in two weeks: impossible. But in an amazing – and ongoing – feat, Sydney and Stephanie got our office procedures converted for remote operations, faculty got their classes revamped, and students dove in.
I am still in awe at how everyone has pulled together to make things work. It isn't the learning experience anyone imagined for this term, but it's certainly a learning experience. And one of the things I'm learning again is what a generous, warm-hearted department community we have, with so many people concerned about each other and appreciative of everyone's efforts during this unusual time.
As I thought of how to comment on this term, I really didn't know what to say. So I asked my colleagues, "What are words or phrases you would use to describe this term?" Below are the answers faculty members sent. I'll let you guess who said what.
- Both frenetic and peaceful, contemplative, encouraging flexibility and kindness
- A new appreciation for technologies we have access to, grateful for students willing to face the uncertainties and give constructive and useful feedback on class sessions and set up
- Embrace imperfection.
- Blurred or blurry
- Challenging
- Tedious, enervating
- Missing face-to-face interaction with my friends and colleagues
- Unexpected (with a twist on Monty Python's "Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition" as "Nobody expects COVID-19")
