This spring’s quick adjustment from in-person to online learning in order to mitigate COVID-19 concerns has set the course for virtual instruction during Maymester and this summer.
President Randy Lowry addressed the spring semester change and the plans for Maymester and summer in a live talk — online of course — with the Lipscomb community.
“We are absolutely committed to getting this semester done,” said Lowry. “Although we’re obviously doing it in a different way… in a matter of two weeks our faculty have moved the entire curriculum from a wonderful, intimate, face-to-face kind of moment to a completely remote online kind of moment.”
Registration has begun for many students, and adjustments to course formats are still being made.
“We’re working right now to convert Maymester and summer school to an online program,” said Lowry.
He said students may may be wondering what this will look like for certain classes: “If you’re taking a chemistry program in the summer, well what about the labs?
“There are some new and creative ways to do that,” said Lowry.
Those details will be available when students register.
The university announced in an email that the courses will be “asynchronous” and “synchronous,” subject to the instructor’s discretion, which was how it worked in the hasty change when the national emergency arose this spring.
Students participating in synchronous remote courses will meet at a specified time online with the professor and fellow students in a virtual setting, Asynchronous teaching and learning allows students to use their own scheduling for learning course content.
The quick adjustment this spring from classroom to online teaching and learning may have been tough on students and professors, but going into courses knowing the teaching style will be a big improvement, according to one student.
“Starting the semester remotely would not be as much of a hardship as it is at present,” said Lipscomb student Cassidy Herbet. “Knowing what the semester will look like ahead of time will give students a positive outlook and help to provide that sense of calm in the chaos.”
Lowry said he is optimistic that classes will return to the campus in the fall, but said that it is dependent on the curve of the virus.
“We are fully planning that in August this university will open again in all of its fullness,” said Lowry “Our community will gather again and continue the good work that we have done for 130 years.”