On The Spot: Hybrid teaching

“First thought - it is hard. Trying to create engaging lessons for both face-to-face and virtual students is hard. Second, it is not much fun.I don't know my students well enough, so I have curtailed my sarcastic comments and my friendly banter. I feel boring and feel that I am boring my students. I do like the block schedule, and I have great students.”...

“Hybrid learning is a creative adjustment to the challenges COVID-19 presents, but in all honesty, it's just not like being together. I think we are discovering that energy and spontaneity are key ingredients to a fulfilling classroom experience, and they are difficult to come by when we are dispersed. That being said, I love being back in the classroom interacting with students every day, and I...

"Teaching studio and making sure people have the supplies they need [is very difficult]. We have this place outside where we have clay and everything we need. The prep has been difficult. With projects, some students forget their projects at home so we have to figure out how to fill their time. It just feels like you have four different things going on at once. You have virtual, you have face to face,...

“One of the reasons I like it is we can keep more kids interactive even when they’re at home. If you’re sick you don’t have to necessarily have to miss class so that helps you so you don't get too far behind. The only downfall I’ve dealt with is that at home there are more distractions like Xbox Playstation. I’ve had kids login, turn on zoom, and they’re not paying attention. Now it’...

"I’ve loved it [Hybrid Learning] for the sole reason that I have been able to see my students. We get to work together, and our robotics team is back in action. We’re socially distanced of course, and we’re taking the proper safety precautions. I love it for the pure fact that I get to see my students and work with them. There are some challenges. It’s hard to balance teaching, being a dad, ...

“Hybrid is difficult because they’re not all in one room. They aren't participating because they don’t want to talk out when other kids aren't in the same class as them. The chat feature has been really nice because they feel more comfortable sharing, even in the classroom when they zoom as well and they chat. Hybrid with group one and group two is really confusing. For what we’re doing I think ...

“I don't really have any difficulties with the hybrid schedule. No matter what my students have to log in at the same time so I don’t really have a problem. I try to make it so even if students are at home or at school they have to engage with the class."

“I think it’s going smoother than we expected. There are obvious problems with it: one of those being logistics, figuring out who’s in class and who isn't and getting supplies to them. Especially in my subject matter, clay, timing is kind of everything. Seeing you guys one day a week it gets really hard to plan for those alternating days and more than two weeks. That’s been the biggest chall...

"While our new learning environment is taking more time this year in preparing lessons and learning new technology, as a teacher I am up for the challenge. Despite being a bit nervous in the classroom due to the pandemic, I have thoroughly enjoyed connecting with my students this year. One of Lovejoy's pillars on the Graduate Profile is "Open to Challenges of Learning," so I have taken that to heart a...