The Return of Face-to-face Classes at Kean University

By Emily Robles | Published by October 23, 2020

This fall semester as part of the Climb Higher Restart Plan, Kean University welcomed back the resumption of face-to-face classes on campus. On Sept. 21 after three weeks of remote learning, 22% of courses at Kean were able to meet on campus once again.

Courses that are on campus mostly consist of introductory courses. According to KeanWise, some of these classes are, Intro to Communications, Intro to Fine Arts, Intro to Earth Science and Transition to Kean.

“I requested to teach a hybrid section of whatever class was available,” said communications professor Allison Edgley. “ I like being able to use my office to work and hold office hours because the view is much prettier and my workspace is an actual workspace.”

This semester, while teaching three courses of fully remote classes, Edgley is also teaching a hybrid course on campus. Edgley is teaching the Critical Citizen communications course, also known as the introductory course, on campus. Her hybrid class only meets once a week and has the same amount of students as usual. When asked if her teaching skills have changed due to COVID, Edgley says they have, but not in a drastic way.

“I am comfortable with technology and have not seemed to have too many technical issues,” said Edgley. “Having the school buy us a subscription to Zoom so we could have breakout rooms was very helpful for engaging the class in interpersonal groups.”

Since starting face to face classes, Edgley has had one student come in class to do a live presentation.

“The rest want to send me recordings. I think they are feeling intimidated and the ability to stay anonymous is making them less participative,” said Edgley.

In the future, Edgley hopes more students will make their way back to the classroom.

Along with communication classes being back on campus, some lab science classes have returned as well. Biology Professor Sara Maass-Meyer has returned to campus to teach in person labs to students. Although her lectures are all remote, Maass-Meyer is teaching two biology courses with optional in person lab sessions.

“I enjoy teaching labs and I feel that they are very important hands-on skills for biological education, so I did not mind coming in person to teach my students,” said Maass-Meyer. “Emails and live sessions are not the same as being in person, so I’m glad I get to see the few students who have opted to come in-person.”

When it comes to socially distancing during labs, Maass-Meyer has said her students and lab managers are doing a great job with following rules and being safe.

“We do the best we can in tighter areas, but I remind the students to maintain their distance and keep their PPE on at all times,” said Maass-Meyer.

Biology cell and Molecular major Boran Khattab is taking one face to face class this semester. Khattab is a senior and commutes to her class once a week.

“It’s a molecular genetics lab,” said Khattab. “ There are a lot of students that chose to take it face to face. I guess students cannot take it at home anymore and I’m one of them.”

Due to the fact that this is a lab course, Khattab stated that her professor had to divide the class into two rooms for safety measures. Her lab room only contains four students. Since returning to face to face classes, Khattab has stated that even though most things remain the same, some things like cleaning and working with partners have changed due to safety measures.

“I can’t work with a partner. I have to do everything by myself,” said Khattab. “ Also, I would say cleaning before and after the lab is a lot stricter now.”

With students being separated into two classrooms, Khattab has stated that her professor goes back and forth between classes and sometimes that makes doing a lab a little more difficult.

“She has to explain and write the protocol for one lab to both classes,” said Khattab. “Sometimes if we need help we have to go and call her so we can confirm if we are doing the lab right. We try to be helpful and patient to the professor because it’s not easy and I totally understand. I appreciate all the work and things she does to teach us.”

When asked if she feels comfortable in a classroom setting, Khattab says she learns better in this environment, but that her only distraction is having to wear a mask for an expanded amount of time.

“Wearing the mask from 11am to 3:15pm is a lot. I have asthma and my first time attending the class I had an asthma attack. It was bad,” said Khattab. “Now that we have a break, I go out and try to take it off for a good 10 minutes.”

Face-to-face classes at Kean University started on Sept. 21 and are scheduled to meet until Thanksgiving. After the break classes are set to resume online instruction.

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