With the upcoming fall semester, many are left wondering what the future will look like due to COVID-19. The University of Wyoming has released plans for people to return to in-person classes for the semester, but not all professors are returning to campus.
The released return plan gives protocol for returning students and teachers and adds that classes will be a mix of in-person and online material. Some teachers for sections of some classes will only offer online classes, for a variety of reasons.
All instructors have the choice of doing traditional lectures, online, or a mix of both. “Their motivations vary,” says Rachel Watson, Director of the Science Initiative Learning Actively Mentoring Program. “Some professors are immunocompromised…some instructors teach team-based courses and group interaction is more accessible online.”
Even with new safety and cleanliness standards being implemented, instructors who are immunocompromised are still at high risk of getting COVID-19, so returning to in-person lectures, discussions, and/or labs are dangerous.
Other professors may find that, with many students still scattered across the country, online instruction as a primary means of attending class can be valuable. Some may even find that online instruction is an easier method to get everyone together or teach more students at once.
Overall, it is up to the individual professors to decide how to run their sections. When registering for courses this fall, be sure to check which are available online and in-person to create a flexible schedule that makes the re-start after COVID-19 as stress-free as possible.
