Andrew Wee is a graduate teaching assistant at the University of Wyoming who currently instructs the COJO 2400 Intro to Photography course. Like many other members of the UW community, Wee has turned his passion into his profession.
“I got involved with photography as a way to document my experiences out hiking and traveling. This evolved into paid gigs overtime, which ultimately became a recommendation to teach at the University,” Wee said.
Wee, who has been instructing at UW since the Fall of 2019, has noticed several differences between this year’s learning outcome and last years that are not immediately apparent.
“Teaching this year has been both challenging and liberating. In the past, this class has been placed closer to the evening, and for a photography class it can be frustrating as you need light to shoot. So, although I had the opportunity to facilitate learning through in person interpersonal communication, I could not help with the actual demonstration of photography in diverse environments as I do now,” Wee said.
Wee said that the change in course setup has actually benefitted his style of instruction.
“The biggest challenge has been the change in teaching delivery. I teach my classes through asynchronous videos because it gives me a chance to demonstrate photography easier. I also feel, that as a visual communication specialist, I have an obligation to not just read off of a PowerPoint. This means I have to put in a lot of hours into production work,” Wee said.
But easier access to course materials and grades has not always been a positive experience.
“I have had a hard time with over working, especially being at home. It seems like I’m working all the time, and it is not easy to break that. There seems to be an insurmountable load of work, and I need to take time to relax and step away from it in order to be more productive,” Wee said.
According to Wee, the stress of constant availability and a lack of time off has affected some of his students as well.
“I have had to be much more lenient on students this semester. It hasn’t been an easy semester for anyone, and I recognize the amount of stress people must be going through. The emotional, mental, and physical toll the pandemic is taking on people is excruciating, and I myself am no exception. Therefore, I have chosen to give the benefit of the doubt to the student, because they may have it far worse than I, and who am I to say what their tolerance for struggle is?” Wee said.
To Wee, the coming months are only going to escalate the problem as the winter sets in.
“Not being pessimistic, but unless we get a vaccine deployed to the public, I fear things may get worse. This is mostly due to people being inside for the winter months along with a lack of spring break. Many people’s mental threshold will be put to the test. I fear for my student’s well-being in this class, which is why I hope photography can be an outlet,” Wee said.
The best strategy that Wee has found to cope with all of the stress that COVID-19 has introduced to his life is simple:
“Compartmentalize your life. Create a sense of structure with routine. Have a creative outlet. Rest.” Wee said.
