This semester Elizabethtown College transitioned from a hybrid or remote format by offering all in-person classes. Even though there were many challenges associated with remote and hybrid learning, professors and students still had to adjust to another new normal.

Last semester, many professors decided to teach their courses in a hybrid format where they taught some students in-person in the classroom while other students were present via Zoom. 

One of these professors was professor of political science Dr. Fletcher McClellan, who decided to partake in the hybrid format of learning because one of his courses featured simulations while another had students watch films in the Brinser Lecture Hall on campus.

However, McClellan also faced numerous challenges due to the hybrid format of learning.

“Some rooms made it hard for remote students to hear what students in the classroom were saying and vice versa. Making the problem bigger were classrooms not really designed or outfitted for interaction. I would encounter different multimedia setups, depending on what the last professor used, and sometimes I couldn’t get the setup I wanted without someone’s help,” McClellan explained in an interview.

He also commended Information and Technology Services (ITS) for their help whenever he had classroom technology problems.

Other professors, such as associate professor of communications Dr. Kelly Poniatowski, chose to teach their classes completely remotely. Like many people choosing to work remotely, Poniatowski prioritized the health of her family, especially since her young son could not get vaccinated at the time, and mitigated her exposure to COVID-19.

She faced many challenges when remote teaching last semester, including distraction and issues with engagement.

“My classes tend to have lots of interaction, like break[ing] into small groups and get[ing] up to move around the room and brainstorm. Then suddenly we were on Zoom, and even though I put students into breakout rooms to discuss and work in groups, I felt like the engagement was just not there,” she explained. “It was also hard for me because I couldn’t see and hear everyone in the class at once to know who might be struggling.”

However, professors have reported differing experiences with students adjusting to the return to in-person learning after over two semesters of hybrid and remote learning. But both McClellan and Poniatowski have said that students are much more engaged.

“[It’s been] great to work with students face-to-face and getting them to interact with each other and with me. I have a much better time reading the room and seeing how students react to my antics,” McClellan said.

However, Poniatowski noticed that students seem to be overall more distracted since returning to in-person classes since during Zoom classes it was easy for them to browse the internet or text their friends when they could have their cameras off. She also pointed out that some students were struggling with in-person exams that were not open-book.

It is clear that while students and professors are grateful to be fully back on campus and conducting classes in-person, the transition has been hard especially with the pandemic still continuing despite vaccination efforts.

Professor of psychology Dr. Jean Pretz discussed the mental health effects due to remote learning as well as how students can better handle the transition back to in-person learning in an interview.

“College students are known to have elevated levels of anxiety and depression, so the pandemic exacerbated those concerns. All the changes to course delivery and assessment must have made students more anxious about doing well in class,” she said.

Pretz continued, saying, “From what I observed last year, students seemed to feel extremely isolated. That takes a toll because a lot of our mental health relies on social support from others who care about us, and all the precautions on campus unfortunately eliminated a lot of opportunities to build relationships and share support.”

Pretz urged students to try to create structure to their schedules to help stay focused, take care of their bodies by getting enough sleep, eating well and exercising and build relationships on campus to create a strong network of social support.

According to Executive Director of Marketing & Communications Keri Straub, the College plans to commit to in-person learning for the spring 2022 semester and strongly encourages everyone to get vaccinated to better protect the Etown community.