Snow days, snow teaching

By Jacob Rosenberg

Winter weather in the Midwest has always been an obstacle.

All schools have a plan to deal with the weather disrupting class. Unfortunately, whether it’s two hours late or a full blown cancellation, teachers are having issues. A delay can either make the commute for a 10 a.m. class slower or cancel a class completely.

Iowa Lakes instructor Mari Miller says adapting to the changing schedules has been a challenge.

“We’re taking it as it comes,” she said. “I have the whole class lined up and I’ve had to abbreviate my days. One class is doing one section. Another class is doing two on the same day. We’re teachers; we just have to adapt.”

It is helpful that Mari Miller does hand out an outline of the semester’s assignments and classes, but are plenty of classes at Iowa Lakes that rely on computers and in class work.

Instructor Kevin Grems is one of the teachers in this scenario.  “We’ve been doubling up on lessons,” Grems said. “It’s helped case projects have doubled up. What would be two weeks has been done in one.

Fortunately most of our software students can access from home. My 8 a.m. has definitely been affected, but I normally plan for at least two snow days each year but not quite like this year.

Our due dates have been more or less the same two or three things have been put to the side. It’s working.” By doubling down on daily work, Kevin’s’ class can keep up.

There are also classes that completely rely on the resources within the classroom. Classes that can’t really rush what they do that day because their work has to take time and be precise.

Mark Rosenberg teaches digital imaging and 3D design courses at Iowa Lakes. He had troubles last year with some classes being canceled, which forced him to deal with his large country driveway being snowed in. This year; Rosenberg has a lot more issues going on.

“We’ve missed a ton of class. It’s crazy,” he said. “This semester has been basically destroyed from the weather. I’m teaching when I can and what priority is but, in terms of people working from home, I have one student with this art program everyone else needs the classroom …

I have a Wednesday afternoon seminar that has rarely met. It’s tough this semester, it has been really bad.”

Other instructors like Mike Tiedemann have talked about being confused on what’s being taught this day and at this time.

Winter is tough on everyone. It’s nice to get a snow day once in a while but when it affects a teachers and students grade, that’s when it becomes a major issue. Wish the best of luck for instructors that they can adapt and overcome this crazy season.