Educating the teachers of tomorrow during a pandemic

Future educators discuss how they are dealing with training in a pandemic as well as how their unique experiences have helped, and what they’ve missed out on.

When COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic in March of 2020 and Saint Louis University moved all their classes online for the remainder of the spring semester, like all other disciplines, education majors had their courses interrupted. This included three sophomore students at Saint Louis University: Hannah Rose, Abby Funke, and Riley Hercules, who are majoring in Elementary and Special Education under the School of Education. “The pandemic has undoubtedly impacted my schooling and created additional challenges,” Rose said, “however, I am still partaking in meaningful learning experiences in spite of all the COVID-19 complications.” Funke added, “Everybody’s learning at the same time. But we’re still supposed to be learning as students to become teachers, so I feel like we’re equipped with a lot of tools and resources and having these experiences that are very unique and different. I think we’re pretty well prepared.”

Hannah Rose, courtesy of Hannah Rose

All are currently doing a practicum, which is similar to student teaching, where these teachers in training get to observe firsthand a teacher in the classroom and learn how to do lesson plans. Prior to this, all three had done fieldwork and gone into schools to observe, but this spring was their first semester getting to take on a more teacher-like role and to learn the day-to-day interactions between teachers and students, as well as teach a few classes themselves.

Hercules, like the others, has seen the benefits these challenges can offer. “I think we’re being trained how to teach online and in person which is really great.” These students have had the chance to try their hand at virtual teaching. Rose “solely taught sixth grade mathematics using a remote platform for another class this semester,” while Hercules said, “I did some of my practicum online and some of it was in person.”

Riley Hercules, courtesy of Riley Hercules

Teachers are expected to think quick on their feet, and this year is no exception. “You have to be willing to adapt and make changes, and it broadens your knowledge and understanding of what education and teaching is,” Funke said. Rose felt pushed in her expectations. “My practicum challenged many of my preconceived notions about special education and offered a real-world perspective to my coursework this semester.”

Perspectives of what teaching can be, much like anyone’s expectations of their future field, have been brought into question. “It definitely has changed my view,” Hercules said. Funke agreed in noting it’s different in “how teaching can be done. It had to shift completely; I get to see how classes are conducted over Zoom.” In some ways, with the numbers of changes these three have had to adapt in ways not seen before, Funke thinks they’re being prepared “better and in a different way. If the whole pandemic wouldn’t have happened, educators would still be teaching how they have always taught."

Abby Funke, courtesy of Abby Funke

But she also recognizes the challenges and downsides, “I think also though we are learning a lot about the pandemic and how that’s affecting our students where we’re not learning a lot of strategies that we’d normally would be learning.” She also talks of the struggles to connect through an internet connection. “It was hard to get to know the kids over Zoom,” but she says, “over time I’ve been able to build a relationship with them.”

Overall, Funke feels the biggest thing she’s missed out on is “being in classrooms” full time. While Hercules wishes she could have experienced “the school activities, assembly’s, field days or field trips, things that have been cancelled. Those are not what I’m studying to be a teacher for, but they are really important aspects of the school environment.”

Going through a practicum, and doing so in a pandemic, has made these future educators even more respectful of the educators they’re being mentored by. Funke reiterated a sentiment of gratitude many have concluded in the past year, “I feel like because of the pandemic, teachers are now getting all the credit they deserve. All the teachers who are currently practicing deserve a lot of credit.” Hercules said, “In some aspects I’m getting more,” out of her educational training. And with all the work she’s putting in, Funke feels confident in her education, “I think that because we’re being taught how to teach in this pandemic, we’ll be equipped for anything.”