(Photo Credit: Chronicle of Higher Education)
On February 24th, George Mason University Korea started all courses online to protect students from the coronavirus-19 (COVID-19). According to the initial plan, face-to-face classes should have begun on March 2nd. However, as COVID-19 became more prolonged and severe each day, the period of the online class was extended. On March 31st, finally, GMU Korea Executive Office announced online classes will be continued in the Spring 2020 semester. Interviewing with Dr. Teresa Michals, an Associate Professor of English and professor Justin Plakas, a visiting professor from the George Mason School of Art in Fairfax, was helpful to figure out how professors are dealing with classes online.
The professors who initially prepared for the face-to-face classes had to revise their syllabus as their classes changed to online. Dr. Teresa Michals stated that “teaching really well online takes a ton of advance planning and right now because we're reacting to a sudden health crisis, none of us have had the time to do that advance work.” Moreover, teaching online has its own limits; it impedes active engagement with students. According to professor Justin Plakas, who is now instructing photography in AVT 253, “art classes can be hard to get the same experience online that you would get face to face.” However, the utmost thing that both professors stressed is that they miss the energy of the classroom which comes from the interactive communication between professors and students.
Considering the fact that COVID-19 can be easily spread to others, the professors regard online class as an appropriate measure even though they are facing some difficulties. In the given circumstances, the professors are trying to do their best. In the case of Dr. Michals, she is working hard “to be much more organized and deliberate teaching online” to “explain everything in detail and very clearly.” Also, she encourages students to communicate with each other by organizing a small group and carrying out group conferences every week. On the other hand, professor Plakas uses video clips and video conferences online regularly in order to make up for the shortage of online classes.
Professors are doing their utmost to communicate with students through virtual platforms. They have opened online office hours for students and encouraged students to talk with professors via e-mail or Blackboard, a virtual classroom system. With such difficulties and limitations of online class sessions, students and professors are looking forward to face-to-face classes beginning as scheduled.
Written by Yuhyun Sihn | Managing Editor
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