It is a long-standing phenomenon that education majors spend their years in college looking forward to student teaching.  During that culminating semester, teacher candidates truly transform from “student” to “educator”. Through the mentorship of their cooperating teacher, student teachers take over the duties of planning and instructing.  Student teachers revel in going to work each morning as they take on the role of “teacher” in their placement classrooms, and becoming a “colleague” with faculty in the building.

Spring 2020 Student Teachers
(pictured January 2020)

And so, that was the dream and expectations for the 115 UToledo student teachers who began their experiences in January 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced an abrupt end to the physical school year for PK-12 learners.  Teachers across Northwest Ohio and Southern Michigan pivoted to provide virtual classrooms and home learning, and likewise, the role of our UToledo student teachers required a new transformation…. reinvented student teaching experience in a remote environment.

 

Specifically, UToledo student teachers have changed to remote teaching by preforming the following:

• Participating in zoom instruction
• Creating a YouTube channel
• Directing virtual oral math practice sessions
• Planning online instruction
• Interfacing through Google classroom
• Producing a Facebook page to communicate with parents
• Recording video read alouds
• Conducting video parent conferences

 

As you can imaging, the integration of technology into the teaching and learning experiences has been priority of our student teachers.  One cooperating teacher, Joe Ziebold from Genoa Area Schools, stated “Damian [the student teacher] is posting his lessons on Google Class and responding to his students’ comments. I believe this is a great experience for Damian to be able to teach and respond using technology. He is getting best of both worlds- taught in a classroom environment and is currently teaching out of the classroom.”

The College is proud of the work and dedication of the class of 2020.  Their flexibility in this time of crisis has demonstrated sterling dispositions and professional characteristics.  As our student teachers launch their careers, we trust they are ready to face all demands of the field and can continue to provide high quality instruction to their students.   Best wishes class of 2020!