After Michigan State University decided to suspend face-to-face instruction until April 20 to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus, professors are trying to adapt to teaching online.
MSU broadcast journalism instructor Bob Gould teaches several hands-on classes involving video production.
On Wednesday, he had already conducted one class when the university announced it’s move to teach all lessons online. Gould said that forced him to quickly adapt to fill his two-hour class.
"We might do some discussion, I might record some lectures and have them watch them…just not sure yet,” Gould said.
Colleges and universities across the country will be using the Zoom video platform for online classes.
All of Michigan’s public universities have temporarily ended in-person classes.
“They can’t be working on other things or multitasking or have distractions in the room," Gould said. "It’s just like being in class. Now, it’s harder, because the doorbell rings or the phone rings or whatever it may be.”
Gould said another challenge will be the strain on Zoom. The online teaching platform that has experienced a surge in demand as schools around the country shift away from classroom instruction.