News

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, educators worldwide have quickly adapted traditional in-person courses to virtual settings. This transition has presented ample challenges, including but not limited to, creative measures educators are taking to offer online courses that typically involve hands-on learning experiences.

An example is Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Foundations of Science course, which is required for elementary education students, all of whom aspire to teach the next generation.

The fast-paced course features weekly earth science and physics topics, and is aimed at teaching educators how to guide their future K-8 students through scientific experiments.

“The biggest challenge in this course was adapting the activities,” said course instructor Colin Wilson, outreach specialist in the SIUE STEM Research Center. “Some of the lessons previously used computer programs or written resources and could be easily adapted as-is, but the majority had physical components and needed rewriting.”

To adapt the course’s hands-on experiential activities, lessons were revised to include the use of common household items, such as using a propped-up book instead of the lab’s plastic ramp tracks. Virtual activities such as simulation labs or instructional videos were also utilized, along with video lectures and online exams uploaded to Blackboard.

“I’ve always relied heavily on Blackboard in this course to keep track of grades and improve communication with students,” said Wilson. “Until this semester, I hadn’t made use of all the features. I took a workshop through Lovejoy Library on Knowmia, a service integrated into Blackboard that makes recording a slideshow presentation fast and easy. I hadn’t used it before March, but now use it weekly. The same goes for Blackboard’s exam features, in-line grading, Zoom sessions and breakout rooms, video editing software, ADA caption transcription, and other awesome services provided by SIUE.”

Elementary education students Alison Blades, of McLeansboro, and Katherine Krausz, of New Baden, praised Wilson’s presence online, noting that he responded to questions and concerns in a timely manner.

Blades, a sophomore, has missed the camaraderie found in a traditional classroom throughout the semester.

“My experience this semester has been quite different than any before,” said Blades. “It has not been an easy change, but it has been adaptable. The biggest challenge is not having a professor or lab partners nearby while completing activities each week. I am used to having my professor and peers completing the labs alongside me, and helping answer any questions I may have.”

In the future, Blades hopes to use the skills she gained from online learning as a middle school math teacher. She aspires to earn a master’s and doctorate in educational leadership, and make a difference in students’ lives.

“In this course, we used many virtual resources that I hope to take advantage of one day,” Blades added. “Although this class was challenging, it has positively influenced me to use all resources available, to listen and follow directions, be confident in my work, and use creativity to the max.”

Krausz, a junior, enjoyed the hands-on assignments she completed throughout the semester, noting the final design project as a highlight.

“My overall experience in this class was a positive one, despite it being moved online,” said Krausz. “Professor Wilson did a great job communicating with us and helping us get through the crazy semester. I enjoyed the design project, because he let us pick the topic and gave us an objective. It was still a great experience despite having to do it at home.”

“This class will influence my future career, because I feel more confident in my science abilities and knowledge,” Krausz added. “As an elementary teacher, you need to know the basics, and this science course was a great way to reintroduce foundational topics.”

Photo: SIUE Instructor Colin Wilson (top) leads a virtual lesson on lunar phases with students Katherine Krausz and Alison Blades.