I never teach my pupils. I only attempt to provide the conditions in which they can learn.
Albert Einstein
As the Coronavirus (codename COVID-19) spreads at a staggering rate, the world is working to combat its contagious nature by CANCELLING EVERYTHING — including college classes. This mysterious illness is disrupting our lives. Universities are moving to a wholly e-learning environment, ski resorts are shutting down, and even Mickey and Minnie are closing the gates to Disneyland!
Welcome to COVID University, a place where we’ll celebrate the not-so-great migration to the online learning environment. It won’t be easy, but it needs to be quick. Because, ready or not, professors are shifting to pants-optional online instruction very soon.
Surviving Social Distancing 101: Helpful Resources
We’re hoarding toilet paper. We’re quarantining ourselves voluntarily for yet-to-be-determined periods of time. As a result, we’re feeling all the feels. Parents are anxious. Teachers are concerned. Policymakers are angry. Kids are elated. We’re venturing into uncharted territory in every aspect of our lives, relearning simple tasks like hand washing and proper sneezing technique. We feel comfortable using terms like ‘social distancing’ and ‘flattening the curve’ in everyday life. And we’re doing our best to survive the pandemic (“What, like it’s hard?”).
This space is open to anyone — students, moms, professors, everyone — looking for a place post, vent, reflect, ask for advice, or just to feel a sense of community.
Check your syllabus because classes will resume soon, and there are no enrollment caps or prerequisites required. I’m spending the worst Spring Break ever getting ready to simultaneously homeschool my children (which I’m not qualified for), conduct my courses in a digital format (which sounds much easier than it is), and to stave off the anxiety of cooking every meal at home for the rest of eternity.
Follow my journey here. And, if you feel compelled, share yours. Because we’re all in this together. I promise it won’t be pretty. But it will be real life.
COVID-U Blog Posts
An Open Letter to the Class of 2020
A Room with a view: An ode to online teaching
Making Lemonade
This Box: A Metaphor for Homeschool Life
