Ashley Dierolf, Science Department

The Catalyst (TC): What do you think about the announcement to continue online distance learning until December?

Ashley Dierolf (AD): “I think it is unfortunate that we will not be back together as a community. We all miss being together but I also think it is what is best considering our virus number and better for our overall community.”

TC: Do you prefer to be online or on-campus?

AD: “There are benefits to both and negatives of both. I miss colleagues and students as well as interactions with them such as hearing about their weekends or afterschool activities. I also know that I have been better at using more virtual resources and it has definitely been a learning experience for all of us.”

TC: How has online distance learning changed your teaching?

AD: “A lot of my class in previous years, a good portion of the curriculum, is virtual so it definitely made the transition easier from on-campus to online. But in physics we have to cut out a lot of labs and demonstrations that we would normally be completing in person. We have also found pretty equal alternatives so there is a balance in a sense.”