When she knew teaching life was going to be very different in fall 2020, biostatistics lecturer Marta Shore got to work figuring out how to manage her course, PubH 6450 Biostatistics I. She polled her students over the summer to understand what they wanted in a classroom experience; she toured the brand new Health Sciences Education Center (where the class would be held); and she worked with class-room management to understand technology options and how to use Zoom.
When school started in the fall, Shore had 112 students in her class, with about 20 participating in person. She prerecords her lectures, but she also gives them during class time on Tuesdays to students in the classroom and to those who watch live via Zoom.
“I have to say, my students have been incredible throughout this process, as have my TAs,” says Shore. “My biggest fear with having to be online was that I wouldn’t be able to make the connections with my students and they wouldn’t be able to make the connections with each other that I feel are so critical to learning this material. But we have, and they have, and it’s kind of amazing.”
