Professors at CSUCI get creative teaching online

CAMARILLO, Calif. -- Many educators are revamping the way they teach after the majority of schools shifted their focus to virtual learning.

Professors at Cal State Channel Islands are making lectures exciting through Zoom, many revamping the way they teach and moving their classrooms inside their home due to distance learning.

“It just is not always super interesting for student to watch a video of someone else doing the fun stuff," said Blake Gillespie, Chair of Chemistry at CSUCI. “So what I did do was try to come up with some other demonstrations that were more exciting.”

Gillespie moved his experiments to his backyard and his laboratory to his garage. He is just one of many professors getting creative for the semester that begins Monday.

“A lot of the facility is going above and beyond to create videos and interactive activities,” said Jill Leafstedt, Associate Vice Provost at CSUCI. “They are creating online scavenger hunts they are recording labs in their garages. They are sending home kits to students so they can do labs at their home in their environment.”

One teacher is even creating movie trailers.

“It was on Twitter,” said history professor Robin Mitchell. “A professor put out a mini trailer and she said, 'I am trying to get my students excited,' and it went viral. A lot of us said, 'Oh My God, this is such a great idea to show students what they are going to get in class.'”

Mitchell says she spent all summer learning digital technology that she had never used before, as well as social media platforms.

“Professional development this summer was optional for facility,” said Leafstedt. “They did receive a stipend, but it was up to facility if they wanted to choose to participate. We were thrilled that over 60 percent of our faculty chose to participate. I am so impressed with what our professors are doing.”

Students seem to be impressed as well.

“My students who follow me on twitter started writing and saying ‘I am actually really excited about taking this class, which is wonderful," said Mitchell. “I want them to be as excited as they would be walking into the classroom on Monday.”

While many universities hesitated to go virtual, Cal State Channel Islands made the decision early on, giving teachers plenty of time to game plan, come Monday class will be in session.

“I am ready to go,” said Mitchell.