by Beth Petitjean, Ph.D., Digital Learning Specialist, Reinert Center
We’re a few weeks into the Fall semester. That time when everyone is in a groove, when they’ve found their footing with the course work and the schedule, and the exhaustion that comes with all that hasn’t set in yet. The bloom of motivation is still in flower. Yet, just as the leaves will surely change with the season, so too our academic lives with the approach of midterm exams followed quickly by Fall break, then the holiday season.
Other potential disruptions loom on the horizon, too. A July 2024 article warned of possible disruptions on campuses nationwide leading up to and after the November election, under two months away as of this posting. Other articles from August forewarned administrators of more student protests during the Fall semester. Oh, and Covid is still around with a new variant and surge that began even before we all start huddling indoors during cooler weather. In a pointed turn of phrase, educator Kevin Gannon recently declared that “disruption is the new precedent” in academic life.
We don’t like to think of instructional discontinuity caused by any kind of disruption, perhaps because the memories of early Covid and the 2020 “pivot” are still too fresh in our minds. Yet, life has a way of throwing obstacles and challenges in our way. Just in the last six months, for example, the following things occurred that disrupted my working and personal life in some way: student protests and rallies; a surprise bout with Covid; extreme summer weather (wind, heavy rains, and hail) that made commuting treacherous; internet outages on campus; A/C replacement and other infrastructure maintenance on campus; one scheduled academic conference (i.e. a planned disruption); two deaths in the extended branches of my chosen family; Hurricane Debby that delayed vacation travel; and other health challenges for my family and myself. Some of these disruptions impacted just me; others impacted many, many more people both locally and regionally. Some were brief; other disruptions lasted longer or still linger in small ways. All these disruptions, however, would have affected my teaching. Luckily, I wasn’t teaching, and I work with an amazing group of people who exemplify what it means to be a team. But the point is that the last six months weren’t exceptional in the amount or kind of disruptions; there were similar disruptions during past semesters and there will be more in the upcoming six months.
So, what can we do about it? With the academic year so meticulously planned and our calendars guiding us with the precision of sherpas on Mt. Everest, how can we prepare ahead of time in case our day, week, or month go sideways from what we planned? And what should we do when such a disruption happens (and it’s not a matter of if, but when)? The Reinert Center has developed several new workshops to address these questions and more. The Fire Drill Series is an ongoing workshop series that emphasizes practical aspects of teaching pedagogy. Each semester, the Fire Drill Series will focus on a timely topic related to teaching and give participants an opportunity to practice and plan for a new or unexpected aspect of university teaching in the 21st Century. This semester we are focusing on the topic of Instructional Continuity with three workshops scheduled for the Fall Semester (September 20, 27, and October 11). For more information and to register, please visit our Events page.
Also, the Reinert Center [Resources > Distance Education and Instructional Continuity] and the Provost’s Office [Faculty Affairs > Teaching Resources for Faculty > University Guidance for Instructional Continuity] have many resources to help you navigate a disruption. Although these workshops and resources can’t account for every possible disruption scenario, familiarizing yourself with the recommendations and suggestions, and implementing what you can as part of your routine teaching practice, may help to mitigate the stress and confusion that come with life’s disruptions. And the Reinert Center team is always here to support your teaching, disruption or not.
References:
Kuchem, M. (2024). “Prepare Now for an Election Firestorm.” Inside Higher Ed, 15 July 2024.
Hidalgo Bellows, K. (2024). “Campus Protests are Coming Back. Students and Administrators are Digging in.” The Chronicle for Higher Education, 15 August 2024; and Blake, J. and Palmer, K. (2024). “Anticipating More Unrest, Colleges Prioritize Civic Dialogue,” Inside Higher Ed, 21, August 2024.
Gannon, K. (2014). “A Faculty Survival Guide for the New Academic Year,” in The Chronicle of Higher Education, 21 August 2024. Gannon also recommends visiting your campus teaching center to find folks who will support your teaching. I whole-heartedly agree with Dr. Gannon! Come visit us in the Reinert Center at Wuller Hall 204 or our website.
The Notebook 