After Michigan State University decided to suspend face-to-face instruction until April 20 to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus, professors are trying to adapt to teaching online.
MSU Broadcast journalism instructor Bob Gould teaches several hands-on classes involving video production.
On Wednesday, he had already conducted one class when the university announced it’s move to teach all lessons online. Gould says that forced him to quickly adapt to fill his two-hour class. “We might do some discussion," Gould explains. "I might record some lectures and have them watch them…just not sure yet.”
One challenge will be keeping online students engaged. According to Gould, "they can’t be working on other things or multitasking or have distractions in the room. It’s just like being in class. Now, it’s harder, because the doorbell rings or the phone rings or whatever it may be.”
Colleges and universities across the country will be using the Zoom video platform for online classes.
All of Michigan’s public universities have temporarily ended in-person classes.