Teaching and Learning in a Pandemic

In his final semester of college, Colin Levi ’20 is student-teaching high school Spanish courses.

 

Colin Levi thought he would spend his final semester student-teaching in a high school classroom. The pandemic changed all that. When Queen Anne’s County High School moved its coursework online this fall, Colin and his teacher-mentor, Erica Schauber, quickly pivoted to adapt their Spanish language curriculum to the virtual environment of Schoology and Google Drive.

The experience has been an interesting case study, informing his Senior Capstone project for his major in Communication & Media Studies. Colin set out to examine how English language learners use technology in the classroom, and the impact of technology on language acquisition and sense of identity.

“I thought I would see students become really dependent on technology, with teachers using it as a replacement, not a supplement to classroom learning,” Colin says. “But now I’m seeing unequal distribution of power because of the unequal distribution of technology. We as educators need to use technology to enhance the language experience, but when the classroom is all virtual and there is a language barrier, the dependence on technology becomes a deterrent.”

School administrators are now considering how to accommodate those students with limited access to the internet, and to help non-native English language learners overcome what could be a year’s loss of learning.

“When this started happening, the response from my professors [Erin Counihan and Bridget Bunten in the Department of Education] was to see it as an opportunity to approach equity and equality through a virtual lens. ‘Here’s how to teach virtually as best as you can.’”

Colin is also grateful for the clear guidance he received

“I always knew what the expectations were,” he says. “Professor Counihand told me: ‘Here’s what the State of Maryland requires. This is what we require. We know this is weird and unexpected, but we will do everything we can to make sure you get certified.’”