In the fall of 2019 we developed the assessment questionnaire.
Due to COVID we did not gather the data at the end instead here is the report
Overall we estimate our effectiveness to the COVID 19 emergency as Highly Effective
Our unit consists of 3 adjunct and 2 full time faculty members.As everyone at SUNYG we had about 1 week to prepare for online learning.
One of the faculty members, Alla Myzelev became part of the Remote instruction consultants lead by M. Harrigan. In this capacity, Alla had helped other art history faculty to adapt to online learning.She created guides such as on how record annotations to the power points and provided phone and email consultations.
Adapting to work in alternative locations was fairly easy.A few equipment needs arouse that moving forward the department may consider.Good quality microphones and headsets for working from home are important. In some cases, the Internet extender would also help to connect easier especially during peak hours.Finally, while Geneseo provides computers to our faculty, it does not provide laptops to our adjuncts. Considering that during the online learning our reliance on technology increases it would be prudent to provide adjuncts with reliable technology.
Our preparation as a unit varied based on our previous experience in online teaching.
-Two faculty members who taught online before have changed their courses to online mode which consisted of materials and assessments delivered in asynchronous mode. Our challenge was in the fact that normally our classes are capped at twenty students while during the COVID 19 pandemic we had to teach very large (120-140) classes online. The TAs and professors worked tirelessly to make sure that the students understood and adapted to the new learning module. We used Canvas to plan out the classes and assignments and to keep in touch with students.
-Three faculty members did not teach online previously. They found that the best way to continuisly keep in touch with students and provide them with information was through creating asynchronous material that was distributed to students.–Lynette, can you add more, I am not sure what you did.
Following the prompt from the provost’s office we instituted the contingency plan which consisted of the following:
Biweekly updates of grades and assignments to our department secretary from all the faculty
The faculty that uses Canvas added both the department secretary and the chair of the department to the roster of the courses.
Pre-planned all the assignments and lecture material on Canvas so other faculty can step in and facilitate the work
The main challenge that we encountered was not in terms of our preparation, which overall went really smoothly and efficiently but in terms various degrees of Internet capabilities of our students.While we prepared lectures and large files for download, some of our students could not even connect to zoom meeting due to the fact that their connection was very weak.
In term of the teaching the main challenge is of course inability to have face to face contact and a completely different learning environment.Most of our students’ report that “they are getting used to it but do not like it”.Additional challenge is teaching large classes in the virtual environment. During the summer our unit will develop further strategies of engagement of students in large classes. The biggest challenge is how to teach skill-based courses, in our cases drawing and watercolor online. We will be working on such strategies over the summer.
Going forward our plan is
Assess the technological needs of the faculty
Encourage faculty to be less reliant on the library for resources and books for teaching
Research various engagement strategies of students in large classes and implement some of them.
Attempt at implementing strategies of skill teaching in the virtual learning modules
Larger issues going forward
-Create an inter-SUNY laptop borrowing program.Several of the students had issues with the laptops during the period of online learning. Given the financial concerns and overall lockdown it was very difficult for these students get quick access to laptops immediately.A SUNY-wide system would benefit students who live far away from Geneseo.
-Student workshop on “how to”
- create an effective recording of your presentation
- record your podcast at home
-photograph your work well
-organize your schedule in virtual learning environment
-prioritize time and take the most of your communication with your instructor
-Make a particular bandwidth of the internet connection a requirement for students to successfully participate in a course.
Assessment of unit’s response to the COVID-19 emergency
How did we respond? Consider the questions below, as relevant to your unit:
How useful was your unit’s COOP plan?
How easily could you work from an alternate location?
To limit exposure to others, could you and your co-workers split shifts?
For SCL, Admissions, others as relevant: how effectively can you move to virtual programming and engagement?
How would instruction take place if not on campus? For lecture/discussion classes? Labs? Ensembles? Dance? Other challenging formats?
How effectively could your unit provide resources to constituents virtually?
Faculty: what would happen if an instructor becomes incapacitated; who will complete the class? Do others have access to grades up until that point?
Staff: what happens if you are unable to work; are other individuals able to cover the tasks in your plan of work?
Evaluate responses identified in #1. We recommend using a rating scale/rubric for each of your responses, for example:
Highly effective effective neutral not very effective impossible
We recommend recording and keeping track of effective responses for potential future use.
What resources are/were needed?
Create an action plan. Based on what was less effective, in your own ratings, what could be improved so that you are more prepared for a future emergency?
Consider updating and adding detail to your unit’s COOP plan.
Given that COVID-19 makes our future uncertain for at least a year out, if we were to be required to social distance again, how could you improve aspects of your unit’s response?
If useful, consider whether resources outside your unit, eg from another SUNY/community college/private, could back up your unit
1 Comment
Alla Myzelev
In the fall of 2019 we developed the assessment questionnaire.
Due to COVID we did not gather the data at the end instead here is the report
Overall we estimate our effectiveness to the COVID 19 emergency as Highly Effective
Our unit consists of 3 adjunct and 2 full time faculty members. As everyone at SUNYG we had about 1 week to prepare for online learning.
One of the faculty members, Alla Myzelev became part of the Remote instruction consultants lead by M. Harrigan. In this capacity, Alla had helped other art history faculty to adapt to online learning. She created guides such as on how record annotations to the power points and provided phone and email consultations.
Adapting to work in alternative locations was fairly easy. A few equipment needs arouse that moving forward the department may consider. Good quality microphones and headsets for working from home are important. In some cases, the Internet extender would also help to connect easier especially during peak hours. Finally, while Geneseo provides computers to our faculty, it does not provide laptops to our adjuncts. Considering that during the online learning our reliance on technology increases it would be prudent to provide adjuncts with reliable technology.
Our preparation as a unit varied based on our previous experience in online teaching.
-Two faculty members who taught online before have changed their courses to online mode which consisted of materials and assessments delivered in asynchronous mode. Our challenge was in the fact that normally our classes are capped at twenty students while during the COVID 19 pandemic we had to teach very large (120-140) classes online. The TAs and professors worked tirelessly to make sure that the students understood and adapted to the new learning module. We used Canvas to plan out the classes and assignments and to keep in touch with students.
-Three faculty members did not teach online previously. They found that the best way to continuisly keep in touch with students and provide them with information was through creating asynchronous material that was distributed to students. –Lynette, can you add more, I am not sure what you did.
Following the prompt from the provost’s office we instituted the contingency plan which consisted of the following:
The main challenge that we encountered was not in terms of our preparation, which overall went really smoothly and efficiently but in terms various degrees of Internet capabilities of our students. While we prepared lectures and large files for download, some of our students could not even connect to zoom meeting due to the fact that their connection was very weak.
In term of the teaching the main challenge is of course inability to have face to face contact and a completely different learning environment. Most of our students’ report that “they are getting used to it but do not like it”. Additional challenge is teaching large classes in the virtual environment. During the summer our unit will develop further strategies of engagement of students in large classes. The biggest challenge is how to teach skill-based courses, in our cases drawing and watercolor online. We will be working on such strategies over the summer.
Going forward our plan is
Larger issues going forward
-Create an inter-SUNY laptop borrowing program. Several of the students had issues with the laptops during the period of online learning. Given the financial concerns and overall lockdown it was very difficult for these students get quick access to laptops immediately. A SUNY-wide system would benefit students who live far away from Geneseo.
-Student workshop on “how to”
- create an effective recording of your presentation
- record your podcast at home
-photograph your work well
-organize your schedule in virtual learning environment
-prioritize time and take the most of your communication with your instructor
-Make a particular bandwidth of the internet connection a requirement for students to successfully participate in a course.
Assessment of unit’s response to the COVID-19 emergency
Highly effective effective neutral not very effective impossible
We recommend recording and keeping track of effective responses for potential future use.