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Click on the image above to access a PDF file of the Quick GuideRemote Lectures
This quick guide provides an introduction to lecturing as you move to remote teaching. It outlines key steps to Plan, Modify, and Implement when making this move to optimize student learning. As with any steps you take in moving to remote teaching, it’s important to anchor your decisions in course learning objectives and to be transparent, flexible, and generous with students.
Plan
Remote lecturing can work as an alternative to delivering lectures in large, lecture-driven courses. Lectures can be created and offered using a combination of Office 365 (PowerPoint),  Zoom, MediaSpace, and D2L. Planning for remote teaching involves creating a workflow for transitioning your course and setting up and utilizing the necessary technology for recording your remote lecture to then share with students.
Modify
When modifying lectures for remote learning, you’ll use Office 365 (PowerPoint),  Zoom, MediaSpace, and D2L to approximate the in-class lecture experience. These modifications involve scheduling your lecture as a Zoom Webinar, communicating with students about this scheduled webinar, and then creating a “Virtual Classroom” module in D2L to hold your lecture.
Schedule Your Lecture as a Zoom Webinar that automatically records

Navigate to http://zoom.msu.edu and click the Login button
Click the Webinar tab, on the left-navigation
Click the Schedule Webinar button
Complete the Schedule a Webinar page with the following settings:
Topic: Enter course your name
Description: This is the dedicated location for virtual classroom
Recurring Webinar: Check
Recurrence: No fixed time
Registration: Uncheck
Webinar options:

Q&A: Check
Enable Practice Session: Check
Record webinar automatically on local computer: Check

Click on the Schedule button
Click in the Link to Join the Webinar field to copy link to clipboard

Let students know about your lecture

Post invitation or link to D2L Announcement
Email classlist a copy of the invitation in D2L

3.     Create a dedicated Virtual Classroom module
Create a dedicated Virtual Classroom module

Add a module in your D2L course to serve as a dedicated “Virtual Classroom.” This module will contain the link for the dedicated Zoom session
Click the Upload /Create drop-down menu
Select Create a Link

Complete the New Link window

Title: Enter Link Name
URL: Paste Zoom link from your clipboard
Open as External Resource: Check



Implement
When it’s time for your lecture, you’ll run your slideshow/presentation as you would with an in-person lecture. This time, though, you’ll share your presentation screen in the Zoom Webinar that you set up, record your screen, and then upload that recording to Kaltura MediaSpace to then share with your students later.
Run Slideshow/Presentation

Open your PowerPoint Presentation
Click on the Slide Show tab, from the Ribbon bar
Click on the From Beginning icon

 
Tip: Running your presentation before beginning your Zoom session will make the presentation immediately available from the Share screen.
Start Webinar

Navigate to http://zoom.msu.edu and click the Login button
Click the Webinar tab, on the left navigation
Locate your previously scheduled webinar and press the Start button to initiate the session
Click the Share icon and select Screen. This will ensure everything on your screen is visible during the broadcast

 
Tip: If you have dual monitors you will need to decide which screen will broadcast your presentation.
Stop Webinar/ Render Video

The session will record automatically. When you are done simply press the Stop button
The recording will begin rendering after you press the End Meeting > End Meeting for All button

 
Tip: Render time is proportional to length of session. Please expect to take 3-5 minutes to render your lecture.
 
Upload Video

Log into MediaSpace: https://mediaspace.msu.edu/
Click on the Add New button
Choose a file to upload
Navigate to: \\Documents\ Zoom\[Session Name + TimeStamp]\zoom_0.mp4
Double click on the file to upload to MediaSpace
As it is uploading, scroll lower on the page, enter a name for the video, and click the Unlisted option and hit Save

Share link with students

Click on the Go to media link at the bottom of the page
Under the video there is a tab called Share, click on it
Copy the link it gives you to the Media Page and post that in D2L

In your D2L course, click on the Content tab
Click on the “Add a module…” field located in the left-navigation
Type Recorded Lectures and press enter
In the module, click the Upload/create button and choose the Create a link option
Paste the link you copied from MediaSpace

Complete the New Link window

Title: Enter Link Name
URL: Paste Zoom link from your clipboard
Open as External Resource: Check




Additional Help
For additional help and support, please check out the other remote teaching articles on iteahc.msu.edu or contact the MSU IT Service Desk at local (517) 432-6200 or toll free (844) 678-6200.
 
Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Given the COVID-19 pandemic, educators from many fields have looked to representations of pandemics to help students study topics the pandemic has accentuated. In the history of science, educators have explored inequalities in medicine, trust in experts, and responses to uncertainty. To help make these issues digestible, some educators have turned to the cooperative board game, Pandemic Legacy. Small groups work together to avert a global health crisis by managing disease. Teams play the game multiple times, but actions in one game have consequences for the next and rules change and develop as the game progresses. The game's development introduces students to new concepts at a manageable pace while giving them new problems to solve. While the game effectively introduced students to topics in the history of science, this study sought to know whether it promoted cognitive and interpersonal skills. It focused on team adaptive performance, which is linked to problem-solving and communication skills. Data was collected using three surveys. Variation in teams' responses was analyzed using the Median test. The Friedman test was used to analyze each team's adaptive performance at each of the three timesteps. All teams were initially quite confident in their ability to creatively deal with unexpected events and reported that they adapted well to new tasks. As they encountered novel situations, some teams reported that their confidence decreased. They were newly aware that they did not have creative solutions to unexpected problems. Teams aware of their limitations performed better than those who maintained their initial confidence.To access a PDF of the "Studying Team Adaptive Performance using the Board Game Pandemic Legacy" poster, click here.Description of the Poster
Studying Team Adaptive Performance using the Board Game Pandemic Legacy 
Research Goal 
This study examined how team adaptive performance evolves over time. Adaptative performance is understood as a process that more effectively moves a team towards its objectives. The team must recognize deviations from expected action and readjust actions to obtain the best outcome (Salas, Sims, Burke 2005; Priest et al. 2002; Marques-Quinteiro et al. 2015). 
While previous studies have examined team adaptive performance in singular events, this study aimed to measure the evolution of team adaptive performance over time. Using a cooperative boardgame that changes as teams play, the study measured how well teams performed in response to three major deviations in game play that necessitated adaptation. 
Research Hypothesis 
Teams with higher perceived levels of adaptability will have better outcomes (the success measure) over time than teams with lower levels of adaptability  
Research Methods 
A total of 16 participants were divided into four teams. Each team played the cooperative board game, Pandemic Legacy (Figure 1), nine times throughout the study. Each participant completed a team adaptive performance questionnaire three times during the study, once after each major disruption in the board game. The questionnaire was designed to assess perceptions of team performance, based on Marques Quinteiro et al. 2015. It consisted of control questions about participants’ demographics as well as a 10-item Likert scale team performance questions broken down into categories assessing satisfaction, creativity, adjustability, adaptability, and positivity.  
Questions to evaluate adaptability included: 
Q7:We update technical and interpersonal competences as a way to better perform the tasks in which we are enrolled. 
Q8: We search and develop new competences to deal with difficult situations. 
Reliability Analysis showed that Cronbach alpha for Q7 and Q8 is 0.938. 
Team outcomes were assessed by a success measure that evaluated each team’s number of wins (where > wins = better outcome) and number of outbreaks (where < outbreaks = better outcome) 
Research Results: Success Measure 
The success measure results of number of wins are displayed in a bar chart. 
The success measure results of number of outbreaks are displayed in a bar chart. 
Research Results: Adaptability Measure 
Differences in the median score of teams’ responses to each question was calculated using the Median Test. Team 3 responded differently than at least one of the other teams to Q8 after Survey 1. Post-hoc analysis with pairwise comparison tests was conducted with a Bonferroni correction applied, revealing a statistically significant difference between Team 3 and Team 1 (p =.030), and Team 3 and Team 2 (p =.030). 
Using the above method revealed no significant results after Survey 2. After Survey 3, there was a significant difference between Team 4 and Team 2 (p=.049) for Q7 and Team 1 and Team 2 (p=.049) for Q8. 
A Friedman Test was performed to determine if responses to the questions changed over time. There was a statistically significant difference in Team 3’s response to Q8 (X2(2)= 6.500, p= .039). Post-hoc analysis with pairwise comparison tests was conducted with a Bonferroni correction applied, resulting in a significance difference between Team 3’s first and third survey for Q8. 
Research Findings 
The initial analysis suggests that teams, such as Team 3, that develop higher perceptions of their adaptability will have better outcomes once the higher perceptions are achieved. Teams, such as Team 1, that begin with high perceived levels of adaptability but did not alter their approach when the success measures indicate adaptation is needed will have poorer outcomes. Teams, such as Team 2, that report high perceptions of adaptability throughout and that correspond with the success measure, will maintain good outcomes. 
Analysis of the satisfaction, creativity, adjustability, and positivity data is needed to determine if these affect the success measure or adaptability over time. 
Acknowledgments 
Funding provided by the MSU SUTL Fellows program, a collaboration between the Lyman Briggs College and the MSU Graduate School. 
References 
Marques-Quinteiro, P. et al. 2015. “Measuring adaptive performance in individuals and teams.” Team Performance Management 21, 7/8: 339-60. 
Priest, H.A. et al. 2002. “Understanding team adaptability: Initial theoretical and practical considerations.” Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 46: 561-65. 
Salas, E. D.E. Sims, C.S. Burke. 2005. “Is there a ‘Big Five’ in Teamwork?” Small Group Research 36, 5: 555-99.   

This week, we are featuring Alexis Black, Assistant Professor in the Department of Theatre.  Alexis was recognized via iteach.msu.edu's Thank and Educator Initiative! We encourage MSU community members to nominate high-impact Spartan educators (via our Thank an Educator form) regularly!
Read more about Alexis’ perspectives below. #iteachmsu's questions are bolded below, followed by their responses!

You were recognized via the Thank an Educator Initiative. In one word, what does being an educator mean to you? 
Inspiration!
What does this word/quality look like in your practice? Have your ideas on this changed over time? If so, how?
I love inspiring theatre students and instilling confidence by finding their sense of play, and I love empowering individuals to use their unique voices to share whatever inspires them. I love finding new practices through my research and creative activities, and bringing these practices to the classroom to re-inspire these artists who are the future of our profession. I believe learning and growing are an ongoing process that includes always taking in what is around us—which is literally what it is to “inspire”— to breathe in.  As students, teachers and artists we must be taking in and absorbing as much as we can, and be truly present to how each new inspiration changes us and our art. What each student does with each moment of inspiration is unique, and that individuality and creativity in turn inspires me right back! 
Tell me more about your educational “setting.” This can include, but not limited to departmental affiliations, community connections, co-instructors, and students. (AKA, where do you work?)
I work in the Theatre Department at Michigan State University with our talented and driven cohort of MFA-candidate Artist-Educators, and our amazing undergraduate theatre students. I am extremely proud to work alongside so many collaborative, compassionate and innovative artists, students and educators.  
What is a challenge you experience in your educator role? Any particular “solutions” or “best practices” you’ve found that help you support student success at the university despite/in the face of this?
I have found the understandable rise of anxiety and depression a challenge for students to pair with often emotionally vulnerable work in the theatrical classroom. I have experienced more success in supporting students in this area due to focus on self-care and closure practices I have gained through professional trainings and research, and incorporating more playful, creative ways into the work has been beneficial as well. I discovered that telling the story of an emotion through physical movements (rather than creating a psychological connection) can be incredibly freeing for students in relation to mental and emotional health. Our bodies are truly instruments for storytelling in this profession; Incorporating powerful ways to keep our instruments confidently and safely “tuned,” and finding skills to use our instruments both fully and with care, can help to nurture the resilient and empowered actors of tomorrow.  
What are practices you utilize that help you feel successful as an educator?
I practice mindful communicative practices that encourage presence, active listening and support of individuality, such as conversations about boundaries before physical touch, check-ins, ensemble-building exercises, discussions on the relationship between comfort and growth as an artist, and projects that encourage empathy through collaborative creation. I find continuing to work professionally artist and remaining a student myself through ongoing professional trainings in my area of expertise to lead to many of my successes as an educator—immersing myself in contemporary practices and productions keeps a connection for my students to the theatre of today and tomorrow.  I also find an intentional emphasis on ownership over their work and their process as artists to be a successful way to hand off the reigns on their work—I am an introductory guide, but they must forge their own path.  If they can leave the classroom with a toolkit they can both use and individualize, I feel I have been a successful educator.
What are you looking forward to (or excited to be a part of) next semester?
In Fall 2022 I will be teaching the graduate MFA students about extreme physical storytelling, including staged violence and staged intimacy. It’s vital to foster consent-forward and trauma-informed educators and artists to join the workforce in the theatre industry, and especially at the graduate level in the department of theatre as our MFA students are training both as artists and educators. 


Don't forget to celebrate individuals you see making a difference in teaching, learning, or student success at MSU with #iteachmsu's Thank an Educator initiative. You might just see them appear in the next feature!

This week, we are featuring Hui-Ling Malone, Assistant Professor of English Education.  Dr. Malone was recognized via iteach.msu.edu's Thank and Educator Initiative! We encourage MSU community members to nominate high-impact Spartan educators (via our Thank an Educator form) regularly!
Read more about Hui-Ling’s perspectives below. #iteachmsu's questions are bolded below, followed by their responses!

You were recognized via the Thank an Educator Initiative. In one word, what does being an educator mean to you? 
Connection. 
Share with me what this word/quality looks like in your practice?
At the end of the day teaching is about sharing with each other, learning from one another and seeing ourselves in others. It is about creating a community willing to engage in content that helps us think deeply about the world around us. It is the willingness to be vulnerable, which as Brene Brown helped us understand, creates connection. 
Have your ideas on this changed over time? if so how?
I’ve taught in several communities that ranged in different age groups, racial backgrounds, socio economic status, religion, language, etc. I’ve learned that teaching is deeply relational, and one does not learn and grow in an environment where they don’t feel safe enough to take risks and thrive.
Tell me more about your educational “setting.” This can include, but not limited to departmental affiliations, community connections, co-instructors, and students. (Aka, where do you work?)
I am a Visiting English Education professor in the English Department. Most of my students plan on being secondary English teachers. It’s exciting and a great privilege to teach the next generation that will teach the next generation! :) I also include community members such as activists, artists, and young leaders to visit and co-teach my class. As a teacher educator, I want my students to know that they are not alone in their pursuit of educational equity and encourage them to build with others outside of their classrooms.
What is a challenge you experience in your educator role?
Throughout this pandemic many of my students have encountered personal challenges, such as loss, illness and maintaining their emotional and mental wellness. 
Any particular “solutions” or “best practices” you’ve found that help you support student success at the university despite/in the face of this?
I encourage my students to communicate with me when they need additional support. I also allow students to zoom in, as some are immunocompromised or want to protect the elderly and vulnerable who are in their close circle. I think this pandemic has taught me to be flexible and to remain as inclusive as possible for all my students.
What are practices you utilize that help you feel successful as an educator?
As much as possible, I try to maintain my own personal health and wellness. I practice self care so that I am in a place to show up for my students. I value communication, transparency and make an effort to create a classroom environment where everyone feels valued, safe and excited to participate! Also, I don’t lecture. It’s never been my style. As much as possible, I provide opportunities for students to teach each other and activities that are experiential and prime for reflection and connection.
What topics or ideas about teaching and learning would you like to see discussed on the iteach.msu.edu platform? Why do you think this conversation is needed at msu? 
I’m relatively new to MSU (I started as faculty in Fall 2020) and understand that there are so many incredible educators who are doing great work. Unfortunately, due to the nature of our work and the pandemic, I’ve been a bit isolated. I’d love for this page to showcase the work educators are doing to learn and connect with others across campus. 
I also know that there is so much going on in the world and see that it is important for us to engage in difficult but necessary conversations around race, identity, the political climate, etc. Perhaps there can be a space to showcase what conversations our classrooms are having and how they can be productive.
What are you looking forward to (or excited to be a part of) next semester?
I’m excited to keep learning from and building with my colleagues and students!

Don't forget to celebrate individuals you see making a difference in teaching, learning, or student success at MSU with #iteachmsu's Thank an Educator initiative. You might just see them appear in the next feature!

It is Graduate Student Appreciation Week, and we would like to highlight the many roles of our graduate and professional students. This week we will recognize one outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant/Educator every day on #iteachmsu. 
Megan Walsh teaching in 2019Megan Walsh stands out as a MSU Graduate Teaching Assistant. Megan applies pedagogical approaches that promote student agency. Megan keeps students’ attention by changing their focal points. She’s like a highly organized traffic cop. She physically and mentally divides her lessons into clear, logical sequences. Each purposeful transition results in refreshed student mental states. Students could not help but be fully engaged in her fast-paced environment. It was like watching a seasoned sports coach getting team members to run different, complicated plays really well. I was very fortunate to have had Meagan as a student. She is a rising teacher-star!  Thank you for being an excellent educator, Megan! Department/Program: The Department of Linguistics & Germanic, Slavic, Asian and African Languages, The Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Program

Earlier this year, I posted on the Hub blog about our experience working with faculty to put their courses online. I shared an infographic of two case studies of how faculty had decided to build their online courses. 
 

The move to online learning in response to COVID-19 brought both challenges and opportunities. An off-campus, flipped section of ANTR 350 has been offered in Grand Rapids during the summer since 2017. When Michigan State University moved to online learning for summer 2020, the class was adapted to a Zoom-based, synchronous model. Students were required to complete online learning modules as preparation for each class. During class, students worked in small groups to complete application activities in Zoom breakout rooms.
Groups were assigned and reconfigured for each unit. The instructor provided recommendations for working effectively in a group and students received feedback after the first and third units regarding their teamwork skills and class performance. Unit exams were two-stage examinations, consisting of an individual exam followed immediately by a group exam. These examinations were timed and proctored over Zoom by faculty and staff.
Students and faculty faced many technological, health, and personal challenges during the semester. However, students demonstrated tremendous resilience and flexibility. Overall, the course was a very positive experience; student performance and SIRS ratings were higher than during previous iterations of the course. The instructor observed improved group work skills, which was mirrored by student feedback. Overall, we were able to retain the flipped approach and emphasis on group work by using Zoom breakout rooms to simulate a collaborative learning environment comparable to that of the in-person experience.

To access a PDF of the "Creating a Collaborative Learning Environment in a Synchronous, Flipped Course" poster, click here.
Description of the Poster
Creating a Collaborative Learning Environment in a Synchronous, Flipped Course 
Ryan Maureen Tubbs, Department of Radiology, Division of Human Anatomy, College of Human Medicine
Alexis Amos, Michigan State University, Psychology Major, Senior 
ANTR 350 Goes Virtual 
ANTR 350, Human Gross Anatomy for Pre-Health Professionalsis an undergraduate course traditionally offered as large, in-person lecture sections on main campus and as a flipped, in-person section in Grand Rapids during summer semesters. 
When Michigan State University moved to online learning for summer 2020, the class was adapted to a Zoom-based, synchronous model. Students were required to complete online learning modules as preparation for each class. During class, students worked in small groups to complete application activities in Zoom breakout rooms. The move to online learning in response to COVID-19 brought both challenges and opportunities in terms of creating a collaborative learning environment.  
An online preparatory assignment was due at start of each class 


Readings interspersed with videos, interactive models, and questions 


Guided by specific learning objectives 


Variable number of questions but each assignment worth 2pts (total 11.2% of grade) 


Image: screenshot of a portion of a Top Hat Assignment titled "Preparatory Reading June 9". Some of the learning objectives and headings are shown. 
During class, students primarily collaborated in Zoom breakout rooms to review and apply the content covered in the preparatory assignment. The instructor moved between rooms to check on group progress and answer questions. Most in-class activities utilized Google docs or Top Hat, so the instructor could also observe group progress in real time. For most activities, keys were available during class so that groups did not end up stuck on any questions.  
10:00-10:03 Application prompt while people logged in, answers entered in zoom chat 
10:04-10:15 Synchronous, Top Hat-based Readiness Quiz, 5 questions 
10:15-11:45 Groupwork and mini-lectures* 
11:45-11:50 Post-class survey soliciting feedback on activities & overall session
Image: screenshot of example application exercise using Google Docs. A CT is shown on the right side of the image and a series of questions is shown on the left. Students answers to the questions are shown in blue. 
Creating a Collaborative Learning Environment 
The importance of developing teamwork skills was emphasized in the syllabus and during the course overview presentation. Students were given descriptions of five different group roles (leader, learner, time-keeper, recorder, and summarizer) and asked to try moving between the roles. Students were asked to read and agree to expectations for student interactions, including keeping camera on when possible, actively engaging with the group, agreeing not to take screenshots or record the session, and guidelines about private chats. The instructor acknowledged the awkwardness of working with strangers over zoom and asked all students to be generous of spirit with each other.  
A brief ice-breaker activity was assigned at the start of each unit to give students an opportunity to develop their collaborative learning relationships. After each unit, students were asked to give honest feedback to the instructor about each of their groupmates’ collaborative learning skills. Students received feedback summaries and recommendations about how to improve their collaborative skills at the end of units 1 and 3. Groups were also asked to set ground rules and group goals at the start of units 2 and 3. 
Image: screenshot of June 9 Top Hat In-Class Page. Activity 1 is an ice breaker for new groups. Activity 2 is an axial muscles google doc groupwork exercise. Activity 3 is the review of that google doc as a whole class and Activity 4 is setting Unit 2 goals. 
The importance of collaborative learning was emphasized by the inclusion of collaborative testing. Unit exams consisted of an individual exam followed immediately by the same exam taken in their groups. The group exam contributed 16.67% to each unit exam score.  
Student feedback was collected in SIRS, post-class, and post-course surveys 
Student Feedback 
Image: bar chart showing responses to "How many of your classmates that you did not know previously did you communicate with outside of class during the semester?" 


Fall 2019 (in-person section): Average of 1.3125 


Spring 2020 (Fall 2019 (in-person section until COVID moved asynchronous): Average of 1.2181 


Summer 2020 (sychronous zoom) 1.5625 


Fall 2020 (asynchronous online) 0.8082 


Image: bar chart showing response to "Overall, did you have someone you could reach out to if you struggled with content during this course?" 
Fall 2019 (in-person):  
Yes for all units 79.2% 
Yes, for 3 or 4 units 0% 
Yes, for 1 or two units 12.5% 
No, I never really did 8.3% 
Spring 2020 (mostly in-person) 
Yes for all units 67.3% 
Yes, for 3 or 4 units 5.4% 
Yes, for 1 or two units 16.3% 
No, I never really did 10.9% 
Summer 2020 (synchronous, virtual) 
Yes for all units 81.3% 
Yes, for 3 or 4 units 0% 
Yes, for 1 or two units 6.2% 
No, I never really did 12.5% 
Fall 2020 (asychronous, virtual) 
Yes for all units 60.8% 
Yes, for 3 or 4 units 5.4% 
Yes, for 1 or two units 14.9% 
No, I never really did 18.9% 
Spring 2021 (asychronous, current course) 
Yes for all units 54.7% 
Yes, for 3 or 4 units 4.7% 
Yes, for 1 or two units 16.1% 
No, I never really did 24.5% 
Image: 100% Stacked Column Chart showing student responses to "How comfortable did you feel reaching out to a  course instructor if you struggled with content?" 
Fall 2019 
Extremely Comfortable 54% 
Somewhat comfortable 29% 
Neither comfortable nor uncomfortable 8% 
Somewhat uncomfortable 4% 
Extremely uncomfortable 4% 
Spring 2020 
Extremely Comfortable 36% 
Somewhat comfortable 29% 
Neither comfortable nor uncomfortable 20% 
Somewhat uncomfortable 15% 
Extremely uncomfortable 0% 
Summer 2020  
Extremely Comfortable 87% 
Somewhat comfortable 0% 
Neither comfortable nor uncomfortable 13% 
Somewhat uncomfortable 0% 
Extremely uncomfortable 0% 
Fall 2020  
Extremely Comfortable 39% 
Somewhat comfortable 32% 
Neither comfortable nor uncomfortable 18% 
Somewhat uncomfortable 8% 
Extremely uncomfortable 3% 
Spring 2021  
Extremely Comfortable 35% 
Somewhat comfortable 30% 
Neither comfortable nor uncomfortable 30% 
Somewhat uncomfortable 4% 
Extremely uncomfortable 2% 
Image: Pie Chart Titled "Overall, how supported did you feel during this course compared to other courses you have taken?” (Summer 2020) 
Far above average is shown as 81%, Somewhat above average is shown as 13%, Average is shown as 6%. Somewhat below average and far below average are listed in the legend but not represented in the chart as they are 0% 
Conclusions 
Summer 2020 was a hard semester for everyone. We all faced many technological, health, and personal challenges during the semester. Despite these challenges, students demonstrated tremendous resilience and we were able to create a collaborative learning environment using Zoom breakout rooms. Overall, the course was a very positive experience; student performance and SIRS ratings were higher than during previous Summer iterations of the course. In addition, students felt more connected compared to the asynchronous Fall sections. 
Image: Table “Student Performance” 
Number of students enrolled in course:  
Summer 2019: 22 
Spring 2020: 338 
Summer 2020: 52 
Number of students withdrawn from course: 
Summer 2019: 0 
Spring 2020: 1 
Summer 2020: 0 
Mean percent score overall: 
Summer 2019: 82.85% 
Spring 2020: 90.19% 
Summer 2020: 89.03% 
Number of students with passing scores (2.0 or higher): 
Summer 2019: 20 
Spring 2020: 332 
Summer 2020: 50 
Number of students with failing scores (1.5 of lower): 
Summer 2019: 2 
Spring 2020: 4 
Summer 2020: 2 
Percentage of students with failing scores: 
Summer 2019: 9% 
Spring 2020: 1% 
Summer 2020: 3.8% 
Image: Results of MSU Student Instructional Rating System (SIRS)  
Summer 2019 SIRS 
Course Organization 
Superior 33.3% 
Above Average 55.5% 
Average 11.1% 
Below Average 0% 
Inferior 0% 
Adequacy of the outlined direction of the course 
Superior 33.3% 
Above Average 55.5% 
Average 11.1% 
Below Average 0% 
Inferior 0% 
Your general enjoyment of the course 
Superior 33.3% 
Above Average 44.4% 
Average 22.2% 
Below Average 0% 
Inferior 0% 
Summer 2020 SIRS 
Course Organization 
Superior 70.9% 
Above Average 19.3% 
Average 6.45% 
Below Average 3.22% 
Inferior 0% 
Adequacy of the outlined direction of the course 
Superior 77.4% 
Above Average 16.1% 
Average 6.45% 
Below Average 0% 
Inferior 0% 
Your general enjoyment of the course 
Superior 54.8% 
Above Average 38.7% 
Average 6.45% 
Below Average 0% 
Inferior 0% 
References 
Gaillard, Frank. “Acute Maxillary Sinusitis: Radiology Case.” Radiopaedia Blog RSS, radiopaedia.org/cases/acute-maxillary-sinusitis?lang=us.  
ANTR 350 Top Hat Course. www.tophat.com  
Acknowledgments  
A giant thank you to the ANTR 350 Summer Class of 2020!  
 
 

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Michigan State University, like many universities, closed its on-campus offerings and hastily moved to remote learning in March 2020. In addition to moving all classes online, students were asked to leave on-campus housing if possible. As COVID-19 cases continued to increase through the summer, plans to reopen in the fall were halted and most institutions announced they would continue offering instruction through remote learning. At the start of the spring 2020 semester, we collected data from MSU students enrolled in introductory economics courses about their grade expectations and views of economics as a major. In order to understand how students responded to the disruption generated by the pandemic, we began collecting additional data about the direct effects of the pandemic on their learning environment, including changes to living arrangements, internet access, studying behavior, and general well-being. Survey data were collected at the beginning and end of the spring, summer, and fall terms of 2020. Supplementing this survey data with administrative data on demographic characteristics and actual grade outcomes, we investigate how the pandemic affects students and how students' final grades in their economics course relate to their responses to the pandemic and virtual learning. We find the effects vary with student background characteristics (including race, gender, GPA, and first-generation college status) and final grades are related to internet connectivity, stress, and anxiety. These unique data allow us to provide a descriptive analysis of students' reactions to an unprecedented disruption to their educational environment.

To access a PDF of the "Learning in the Time of COVID-19" poster, click here.Description of the Poster 
Learning in the Time of COVID-19 
Andrea Chambers, Stacy Dickert-Conlin, Steven J. Haider, and Scott A. Imberman 
Introduction 
This study provides a snapshot of how students were experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic in the month following the abrupt shift to online instruction and how students have adapted to the experience of remote learning more long term. It contributes to the concerns that the mental well-being and academic performance of students has been affected by the coronavirus pandemic. 
Research Questions 


What demographic and academic factors are associated with student responses to questions about internet access, ability to focus, feelings of anxiety, and their financial situation? 


How are students’ final grades in their economics course related to their responses to the pandemic and virtual learning? 


Methodology 

Surveyed students enrolled in introductory economics courses from one large, public research university during three semesters (Spring, Summer, and Fall) of 2020. 
Students completed surveys at the beginning and end of the semester. 
Supplemented these data with administrative data on demographic characteristics and actual grade outcomes. 
Conducted multiple regression analyses of student characteristics on student perceptions and final semester grades. 

Survey 
The Two Surveys: 

Initial Survey – General information and grade students expected to earn in the class 
Final Survey – Students’ reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic and remote learning  

Response Rate: 


Of the 6,665 eligible students, 3,445 students (52%) answered at least one of the COVID-related questions. 


COVID-Related Statements: 


My internet connectivity is sufficient to complete my economics coursework. 


My final grade in my economics course will be unaffected. 


My overall semester GPA will be unaffected. 


My time available for studying has increased. 


My ability to focus on my studies has declined. 


My anxiety about my studies has increased. 


My financial situation has worsened.  


Sample Descriptives 


Female: 47.3%, Male: 52.7% 




White: 71.5%, Black: 4.2%, Hispanic/Latinx: 4.7%, Asian: 6.6%, 2 or more Races: 2.7%, Other or Not Reported: 1.5%, International: 8.7% 


1st Year at MSU: 37.5%, 2nd year at MSU: 38.5%, 3rd Year at MSU: 16.5%, 4th Year or Later at MSU: 7.6% 


First-Generation College Student: 18.5% 


Results 
Image: A stacked bar chart detailing the percent of students who strongly agree and agreed with each COVID-related statement on displayed on top of the percent of students who strongly disagreed, disagreed, or neither agreed nor disagreed with each COVID-related statement. 
Title: Figure 1. Responses to COVID-Related Questions for Spring, Summer, and Fall 2020 
Details of image: 

My internet connectivity is sufficient: 83.3% strongly agree/agree and 16.7% strongly disagreed/disagreed/either agreed nor disagreed. 
My econ course final grade will be unaffected: 36.0% strongly agree/agree and 64.1% strongly disagreed/disagreed/either agreed nor disagreed. 
My overall semester GPA will be unaffected: 31.2% strongly agree/agree and 68.8% strongly disagreed/disagreed/either agreed nor disagreed. 
My time available for studying has increased: 46.9% strongly agree/agree and 53.1% strongly disagreed/disagreed/either agreed nor disagreed. 
My ability to focus on my studies has declined: 69.0% strongly agree/agree and 31.0% strongly disagreed/disagreed/either agreed nor disagreed. 
My anxiety about my studies has increased: 74.0% strongly agree/agree and 26.0% strongly disagreed/disagreed/either agreed nor disagreed. 
My financial situation has worsened: 36.3% strongly agree/agree and 63.7% strongly disagreed/disagreed/either agreed nor disagreed. 

Research Question 1: What demographic and academic factors are associated with student responses to questions about internet access, ability to focus, feelings of anxiety, and their financial situation? 
Empirical Strategy: where  is an indicator for whether the student agrees or strongly agrees with the statement. 
Ability to Focus 


April 2020: 83% of students report their ability to focus on their studies has declined.  


December 2020: 61.5% of students state feeling their ability to focus has declined.  


During the initial reaction to the pandemic and remote instruction, we do not see statistically significant differences across student characteristics such as gender, race/ethnicity, or first-generation college status. However, when we look at the continued response in the summer and fall semesters, female students are more likely to state their ability to focus on their studies has declined relative to their male peers by 9 percentage points. 


Anxiety about Studies 


Over 70% of students in the sample report an increase in anxiety about their studies in April 2020 and through Summer and Fall 2020. 




Female students are more likely to report an increase in anxiety relative to their male peers of around 8 percentage points in the Spring 2020 and 16 percentage points during Summer and Fall 2020.  


Financial Situation  


April 2020: 48.6% state that their financial situation has worsened. 


This condition was felt more by first-generation college students, women, and lower performing students compared to their respective peers.  


December 2020: 30% state their financial situation has worsened and first-generation college students during Summer and Fall 2020 are still more likely to experience a worsened condition. 


Research Question 2: How are students’ final grades in their economics course related to their responses to the pandemic and virtual learning? 
Empirical Strategy: 
where is a vector of COVID-related questions and  are the student background characteristics, year in college, GPA, and expected grade at the start of the semester. 


Internet Connectivity: Students who did not have sufficient internet connection earned lower final grades.  


COVID-Related Stress: In April 2020, students who strongly agree their ability to focus has decreased and students across all semesters who strongly agree their anxiety has increased earned lower final grades.  


Financial: Students who state their financial situation has worsened earned lower final grades in the summer and fall semesters. 


Discussion & Conclusions 


As many students in this study report feeling their ability to focus has declined and anxiety has increased, findings suggest women, first-generation college students, and lower performing students may be particularly vulnerable to these feelings and experiences.  


Survey results suggest financial situations worsened for first-generation college students, which could lead to food or housing insecurity for these students, issues which could lead to increased stress and anxiety, lower grades, and possibly prevent students from persisting in higher education.  


Requiring access to instruction via online learning has showcased the need for quality internet access. 




The coronavirus pandemic has raised a lot of questions about the future of online education, it is important to keep in mind the ways in which students are impacted by such a move.