SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC NEWS) – The coronavirus pandemic puts a pause on current education practices and schools are forced to find an alternative solution. Schools across the country are transitioning to online learning. Educators, whether it be K-12 or college professors, are required to adjust their teaching methods so students can receive the materials from their homes.
In Jamesville, first-grade teacher at Tecumseh Elementary school, Josh Swanson said it’s been a challenge to learn the new software needed to run his class.
“Training myself how to use Google Classroom, because I’ve never used that before, so getting comfortable with all the ins and outs of that and posting assignments and items and all that good stuff has been quite a learning curve for me,” said Swanson.
Swanson has been a teacher for 19 years and has never had to face a situation like this before in his career. He said many of his assignments have been pen and paper for his students but now he is hosting online Zoom classes with his first graders. He said he is just happy to reconnect all the students again.
“I know just having the Zoom meeting you can see the kid’s faces just being able to see their friends that they haven’t seen in over two weeks has really brightened up some kids days,” said Swanson.
Teachers like Swanson in elementary schools are faced with the challenge of moving online but so are college professors. Syracuse University Geography Professor, Jesse Swann-Quinn said he faced a similar learning curve having to move his classes online.
“The frustrating elements are because I am learning a new skillset, and that means I’m learning something new. I now have a little bit of experience under my belt and feel like moving forward I could do this a little more easily,” said Swann-Quinn.
Swann-Quinn echoed the thoughts of other educators that he needs some time to test out the new methods.
New York recently announced that schools will now be continuing education through spring break so educators must adjust to getting more content online soon.
