What would be a reasonable approach to classroom teaching in the fall?

[mamselle]

This looks super fun.

"What will college classrooms look like in the fall? Case Western Reserve University shares simulated spaces"
https://www.cleveland.com/news/2020/07/what-will-college-classrooms-look-like-in-the-fall-case-western-reserve-university-shares-simulated-spaces.html

"While arranging for the simulations, organizers found that it was 'impossible' to facilitate discussion that included in-person and remote students at the same time. Faculty members will decide how to balance courses and shape discussion, for example creating in-person and remote discussion groups."

Oh yes.  Don't you worry, faculty gonna make everything alright.

+1

Yes. The loci of conflicts in several areas seem to be coalescing in educators' bodies.

M.

[Juvenal]

This looks super fun.

"What will college classrooms look like in the fall? Case Western Reserve University shares simulated spaces"
https://www.cleveland.com/news/2020/07/what-will-college-classrooms-look-like-in-the-fall-case-western-reserve-university-shares-simulated-spaces.html

"While arranging for the simulations, organizers found that it was 'impossible' to facilitate discussion that included in-person and remote students at the same time. Faculty members will decide how to balance courses and shape discussion, for example creating in-person and remote discussion groups."

Oh yes.  Don't you worry, faculty gonna make everything alright.

+1

Yes. The loci of conflicts in several areas seem to be coalescing in educators' bodies.

M.

Leading to heartburn.

[dr_codex]

On topic, but a pressing question:

Is anybody else hearing the message that:
a) Everybody must wear masks;
b) therefore, social distancing in not necessary?

Asking for some friends, who need quick answers to the question that started this thread.

Thanks in advance,
dc

[namazu]

Is anybody else hearing the message that:
a) Everybody must wear masks;
b) therefore, social distancing in not necessary?

From people who've been skeptical of / confused about directives related to the pandemic, yes.
Not from anyone who understands anything about epidemiology and what we currently believe about the transmission patterns of this virus.
Masks are helpful and important tools for reducing transmission, but masks alone are insufficient without also practicing distancing and other good hygiene.

[eigen]

On topic, but a pressing question:

Is anybody else hearing the message that:
a) Everybody must wear masks;
b) therefore, social distancing in not necessary?

Asking for some friends, who need quick answers to the question that started this thread.

Thanks in advance,
dc

I've heard both that and the converse: masks aren't necessary if you're 6 feet apart. Both bother my immensely.

[Caracal]

On topic, but a pressing question:

Is anybody else hearing the message that:
a) Everybody must wear masks;
b) therefore, social distancing in not necessary?

Asking for some friends, who need quick answers to the question that started this thread.

Thanks in advance,
dc

I've heard both that and the converse: masks aren't necessary if you're 6 feet apart. Both bother my immensely.

I think part of the problem is that distance has been overemphasized, compared to the other factors. Then you see the same things sometimes happen with masks. I think thats why it is so important that messaging is within the context of risk reduction and management. I don't wear a mask when I'm outdoors, there are very few other people around, and I'm totally sure I can keep tons of space between me and them. Once I get anywhere where there are more people around I wear a mask and also try to stay six feet apart. Indoors, I always wear a mask.

[FishProf]

Six feet AND a mask, for transitory interactions.  If you will be together for more than ~15 minutes in an enclosed space (obvs. not a stadium), then that is likely insufficient.

See also, Georgia schools.

[spork]

Reviving this thread for Fall 2021.

My employer has issued three directives:

• All employees and students must provide evidence of coronavirus vaccination.
• Instruction will return to in-person, on-campus.
• There will be regular Covid-19 testing of students (random surveillance and contacts of confirmed positive cases). Students who test positive will be sent home for recuperation if possible, or they will be quarantined on campus.

I am encountering a steady dribble of acquaintances who have tested positive after being vaccinated. I suspect there will be positive cases on campus, with varying numbers of students absent from class at different points in the semester, so I'm designing my courses to go online. If it's a single student who can't attend for a week, it will be "all assignments are available on the LMS and you can ask a classmate for notes." If I find out that, for example, five percent of the class won't be present, I'll announce that we'll be meeting via Zoom until further notice. No way am I doing the camera and microphone thing for "remote" students while teaching in the classroom.

[the_geneticist]

Reviving this thread for Fall 2021.

My employer has issued three directives:

• All employees and students must provide evidence of coronavirus vaccination.
• Instruction will return to in-person, on-campus.
• There will be regular Covid-19 testing of students (random surveillance and contacts of confirmed positive cases). Students who test positive will be sent home for recuperation if possible, or they will be quarantined on campus.

I am encountering a steady dribble of acquaintances who have tested positive after being vaccinated. I suspect there will be positive cases on campus, with varying numbers of students absent from class at different points in the semester, so I'm designing my courses to go online. If it's a single student who can't attend for a week, it will be "all assignments are available on the LMS and you can ask a classmate for notes." If I find out that, for example, five percent of the class won't be present, I'll announce that we'll be meeting via Zoom until further notice. No way am I doing the camera and microphone thing for "remote" students while teaching in the classroom.

Well, if I followed your rule of 5%, we'd be all online all the time for lectures.  Labs could still be in person.

My university has announced that "everyone: faculty, staff, students, vendors, visitors, etc must show proof of vaccination by [date]" or you have to wear a mask, get tested, and complete a symptom checklist before coming to campus. 
But they are relying on folks opting in and being honest.  I'm vaccinated, I filled out their online form, but when I go to campus there is no one asking for any verification.  What are they going to do - ask everyone to please show proof before they park or get off the bus?  Build a gigantic fence around campus with regulated entry points?  Tiny, remote colleges might be able to do that sort of control, but not here.
I was optimistic about Fall when the CDC said all adults were eligible.  Now, between the low vaccination rates, the new Delta variant, and my university's lax follow-up to their policy I'm pretty certain we'll have to go back to remote teaching.  If we make it through Thanksgiving in person I'll be shocked.

[spork]

We will make it to Thanksgiving, because after Thanksgiving students are not eligible for prorated refunds of dorm and meal plan fees. But I expect class attendance until that point will be hit or miss.

The only possible wrench in the above is the state government ordering that all campuses close, which I don't see happening. University leaders will tell the governor's office that another shut down will be very bad financially.

[Caracal]

I have no idea what will happen. However, I think it is important to remember that covid w vaccination is very different from covid without. This is probably going to become an endemic disease. The main question is do you want to encounter it first through vaccination or infection. Given that, I don't know if it makes sense for institutions to be sacrificing either financially or educational goals to avoid infections full stop. It's a bit similar to the personal calculations we have to make. As a vaccinated person I'm no longer willing to sacrifice important things like seeing friends and family to avoid potential contact or spread of covid. There are precautions I'm taking still since cases are high and I think there are appropriate precautions schools should take. However, the risks are different so the precautions should be different. I guess you could get to levels of transmission where it just becomes too risky to hold class or it makes sense to move online for a period of time. But the risks are different and planning needs to reflect that.

[spork]

I don't understand what your point is. Colleges and universities will do whatever is in their interests. Often this conflicts with my interest, which is getting paid for doing my job effectively. I'm fully aware of the risks I face from infectious diseases, including Covid-19, and do far more than the average 19-year old to reduce them. My main health concern related to teaching in the classroom this fall is getting into a car crash during my commute to and from campus. But I refuse to engage in a practice -- "dual modality" of simultaneous face-to-face and online instruction -- that by all accounts is a disaster pedagogically.

[Caracal]

I don't understand what your point is. Colleges and universities will do whatever is in their interests. Often this conflicts with my interest, which is getting paid for doing my job effectively. I'm fully aware of the risks I face from infectious diseases, including Covid-19, and do far more than the average 19-year old to reduce them. My main health concern related to teaching in the classroom this fall is getting into a car crash during my commute to and from campus. But I refuse to engage in a practice -- "dual modality" of simultaneous face-to-face and online instruction -- that by all accounts is a disaster pedagogically.

Oh I agree. That's my point. I'm also not going to do that. It doesn't strike me as necessary. It is much easier for me to be more flexible than usual with attendance and find various workarounds as needed to deal with students who might miss some classes than it is to try to have some solution that combines online and in person.

[RatGuy]

My university's mandates:

• Students cannot be required to show proof of Covid vaccinations. The university also cannot encourage, except under limited circumstances, students to get vaccines. For example, the university isn't giving students a TigerCash giftcard for getting vaccinated.
• instructors cannot ask students about vaccination status
• All classes will be in person. Instructors are not allowed to switch class delivery. In other words, faculty can't decide on their own if the class moves online
• students should be masked indoors....except the residence halls.

[Caracal]

• instructors cannot ask students about vaccination status

All else being equal, I guess I agree with that. It isn't really appropriate for an instructor to be questioning students about medical issues. The problem is that it isn't the instructor's job because the school is supposed to be taking the appropriate measures and they pretty clearly aren't.

Out of curiosity, does the ban on encouraging students to get vaccination extend to things like exemptions from testing? Where I teach, there is no vaccine requirement, but everyone is required to have randomized testing unless they present proof of vaccination. I'm hoping that might be fairly effective. If people have to come in for the mandatory testing and they are also told "by the way, you can just go next door and get the J&J shot right now and you won't have to deal with this again" a lot of students will probably just do it.