Teaching Reflection
Written by: Professor Albert Ma
We’ve finished four weeks of online classes. I want to reflect upon some physicality and emotional aspects, something that economists seldom talk about.
First, I have found teaching via Zoom very exhausting. Instead of pacing a little with computer, projector, blackboard, and STUDENTS around me, I just sat in front of my computer, and talked! Talking for a long time while seated was difficult; the chest hurt, the back hurt, and the eyes hurt, too. I also felt cold from “being static” for too long.
I have begun to appreciate why singers perform standing up and dancing! After three weeks, I had a standing desk delivered at home; that has been an improvement. Standing isn’t a substitute for pacing, though. I wonder how my students have been handling the being-static problem. They don’t get to go to different campus areas from class to class; it must be difficult.
Second, teaching in a room full of students is a stressful-blissful activity; I quite believe that it induces adrenaline and endorphin, sources of excitement and happiness. Clearly, eye contact is very important for teaching and learning. I also have begun to appreciate why movie stars can tell stories with their eyes.
Teaching via Zoom doesn’t seem to generate the same levels of adrenaline or endorphin as before. Also, I don’t get to see the students, who usually have their videos off, despite my plea otherwise, probably due to limited bandwidth and other constraints. Even if videos were on, eye contacts wouldn’t be quite there. Then I wonder how students are handling NOT seeing each other! That probably means deterioration of excitement and happiness.
My students have been super! They are doing the best they can under the circumstances. We are all in an unforeseen teaching environment. I don’t have anything that remotely resembles a remedy for the physicality and emotional issues. Nevertheless, an acknowledgment of them may make us feel a little better.