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It's interesting what our classrooms will look
like this fall.
Some ways they'll be similar.
But in some critical ways they'll be different.
Probably the biggest difference is that all of our classrooms will be social distancing.
So for instance, we're in Strong Hall, the main auditorium there normally would seat
250 people, but this fall it's going to have a maximum of just 63 people.
We've actually roped off the chairs so that folks can only sit in certain places and they're
forced to isolate.
And we've done that in classrooms all across campus.
There will also be hand sanitizers at each classroom, a lot more AV so that we can tape
classes so if you are at home, or if you're in a split hybrid class, you've got a way
to access that information.
And then it also allows us to have the flexibility if something happened.
We've been trying to plan for what we might need to do regardless of what the virus throws
at us.
Traditionally, many of our classes have been taught in a face to face format, where the
instructor and the students were all in the same room at the same time.
We're still going to have a number of face to face classes using that kind of modality,
but we're also going to be teaching classes with a number of hybrid modalities where some
students come to the class every day, while other students learn online.
We'll also be offering some completely online classes because we want to give options to
both students and instructors.
Long term, technology gives instructors more options for delivering content to engage students.
Basically, you can bring your laptop and connect to a projector in any classroom.
Many rooms also have a document camera and blu ray video player.
The sign up app allows you to share class materials from a variety of sources including
laptop files, web pages, items on a document camera, and zoom for those classes that will
have online students as well as in-class students.
We are adding additional cameras and microphones to as many rooms as possible to improve the
virtual class experience for the online students and the audio recording of your class.
This situation has, you know, forced me to think a little bit more about what I'm teaching,
how I'm teaching it, and it's given me an opportunity to shake things up just a little bit.
That's what I'm excited about implementing.
One of the great things about being a college student is the opportunity to collaborate
with your peers.
We want those rich student to student collaborations and learning experiences to continue in the
fall semester, but we want to make sure that they're done in a way that is safe for all
participants.
I'm a big believer in all the guidelines that have been established, both within Knox County,
within the campus community, statewide--because it's what keeps other people safe.
I don't do this for me, I'm doing this for other people.
So wiping down of surfaces, making sure that you're wearing your mask, social distancing
six feet apart as much as possible in order to stop the spread of this disease.
It's not only about us as like students, but you have to think about the other people that
you come in contact with.
Black and brown communities are being disproportionately affected by COVID-19.
One would be remiss not to do these simple, basic acts of care and kindness for not
only oneself, but for those around you and those that don't have access to resources
that, you know, we might have and that others don't.
Well, I have a huge staff.
We couldn't do any of this without all of them.
And not just our staff, but I think the whole university has really come together in the
Volunteer Spirit in a very unique way.
They actually are doing things that the rest of the SEC is looking to us for how, how to
hold classes, how to make folks safe.
It really has been in some ways our finest hour--not something we'd want to do--but
in terms of how we've responded as a campus, as facilities, as administration, as faculty,
it really is amazing and it speaks to what a great place this is.
I think it's pretty hard to just process everything that's happening, you know?
A new normal is challenging for anybody, but I think it's going to help me grow more as
a person, as a Vol.
You know, it's senior year so just take everything in and just appreciate what's happening and
just make the best of it.
Whenever I step foot on UT's campus, like this place is my home.
So having that feeling, being back on campus, is something that everyone misses--that I
miss so much--and just to be able to have that feeling of like community and family
again is something that I really value and I'm really excited for.
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