When America closed down during the midst of a global pandemic, millions of people had to make a crucial change in their everyday lives. Among these masses were the thousands of teachers and professors who were now turning their homes into classrooms and working harder than ever to make sure their students are getting the most out of their online learning.
One of these teachers is Tinamarie Ivey, a theatre professor at LBCC who has spent 10 years with the community college supporting the use of drama in the classroom as well as providing learning strategies and suitable environments for ELL students. Ivey is passionate about what she does and has been committed to making sure she provides the best for her students, even when her usual class style has changed.
How have you been teaching theatre online?
As a faculty member, I have developed open educational resources (OER) that implement high-impact, culturally relevant/inclusive, collaborative projects in support of open education and reduced textbook costs for students. In addition, I have built and developed online courses and currently teach remotely. Because of this my transition to teaching this quarter online has been relatively smooth. Zoom meetings have made it possible to create classroom participation in real time – though not ideal since being in a classroom is always preferred.
Has your teaching style been impacted at all?
My teaching style has been impacted in ways that affect my ability to engage with students in the classroom by utilizing cooperative learning structures.
How has class participation changed with online learning?
I feel fortunate to have very motivated and conscientious students enrolled in my courses. Participation in the form of Zoom meetings has been fairly good, I would say on average approximately 85% of the class is present and engaged. Occasionally, there are students who must go to work but can view the recorded Zoom meetings at a later time.
Is working at home better or worse than you imagined?
Working at home has turned out to be better than I thought it would be, though I miss being in the classroom.
Aside from doing everything at home, what was one of the biggest changes you had to make in the curriculum this term?
One of the biggest changes I had to make in the curriculum was to incorporate materials that would need to be completed during Finals Week.
What has been one of your biggest challenges with teaching online?
I think the biggest challenge with teaching online is trying to establish a sense of community in the classroom. I honestly believe that joy needs to be present in all learning environments, teaching remotely makes that a real challenge.
Do you have any motivators to help you get through the rough spots?
I do not know if I could say this is a motivator, I can just say that I try different things to grab students’ attention and interest and whatever sticks to the wall is a keeper. For instance, at the end of every class we sing a song together – yes, that probably sounds juvenile, but I’ll tell ya, the students participate and we end with laughter and joy – that turned out to be a keeper.
Has this new form of teaching affected the way you feel about your subject or career?
No. We are experiencing a difficult time on many levels but we are experiencing it together. I love being a teacher and the subject matter I teach.
The expectations for K-12 students’ education have decreased over the course of the pandemic, but how much trial-and-error do you think should be allocated for college students?
I think we’re all trying to make this work, students and educators; I can’t speak to the K-12 situation but I will say that college students are going to school to improve their future and I believe that most students are sincere in acquiring the needed knowledge to be successful in their chosen careers.
If classes are online again next term how will you feel?
Well, it’s not ideal but honestly, we need to be there for our students and that’s the attitude I maintain.
How will COVID-19 change the way you do in-class lectures? Will it take some getting used to again or will it be a breath of fresh air?
I will be thrilled to be back in the classroom and would not find the adjustment difficult from teaching remotely.
What changes would you like to see for online educating?
I think all instructors should have online teaching mentors; perhaps a senior instructor who can support newer instructors in coursework delivery systems and approaches.
What’s one of the best ways students can minimize their struggles in your class this term?
Time management is important in any person’s life but right now students need to find ways to keep track of their time as well as caring for their mental health, which might help them cope with the severe challenges that they are experiencing.
Finally, what advice would you give to a struggling teacher right now?
I hope all of us educators can remember that we play an especially important role in our students’ lives; our struggles are their struggles. This is a temporary situation; teachers are creative and dedicated to their work, we will prevail and come out the other side of this because we are mentors, it is what we do.
At A Glance:
Tinamarie Ivey
Occupation: Theatre Arts Faculty at LBCC.
Education: Undergraduate at California State San Bernardino, Graduate School at Humboldt State University.
Classes: Performing Arts, specifically Theatre Arts.
Years at LBCC: 10.
Hometown: Born and raised in Southern California.
Other Interests: Ivey has a deep interest in experimenting and implementing ideas and practices that support innovative learning and cultural competency.
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