SHOULD MY KIDS GO BACK TO CAMPUS?

SHOULD I TEACH ON CAMPUS THIS FALL?

NO, BUT THAT IS NOT ALL BAD.

I have been asked these questions by colleagues, friends and family. My answer is simple: no. It is not safe. And I cannot see how it could be made safe. Moreover, why not take advantage of time, on-line educational resources and the saved money and become better prepared for next semester?

I say this with a deep understanding about how a university operates institutionally, and as a anthropologist about how a community of students, faculty and staff interacts. In fact, it is such interaction that is the core to being a part of a college campus that directly conflcts with what is needed to stop the the spread of the pandemic. All you have to do is to think about any typical situation on a college campus to realize that the particulars for protecting people from the spread of this highly contagious virus is near impossible. From the filling and emptying of parking lots, to participating in classroom activities and labs, playing sports, making music as members of the university band, eating and living in dormitories, interaction is central to being a part of a campus community.

But learning does not begin and end in the classroom or on the college campus. My advice to students is to take advantage of the amazing resources available in the interactive world in which we live. Millennials are the first generation to have always lived within the matrix of the internet. Today’s students have always been connected with the world literally at their fingertips. We may use the antiquated name of “phone” for the technology most of us carry in our pockets, but these devices are really multi-dimensional connectors to a multi-mediated world. So students take advantage of amazing learning resources at hand. For example, you can:

Take on-line courses from your college to meet requirements and explore new areas of study.
Take advantage of courses from top tier schools that meet your interest and ask for credit at your institution (all schools have a process to do this).
Watch Ted Talks about subjects that interest you
Use Khan Academy web-videos to brush up on and advance your mathematical skills. Khan’s lessons on statistics are excellent
Practice your art. Write poems, stories, play your instrument, paint, draw.
Read. Set up a realistic number of novels and/or non-fiction that speaks to or extends your interests.
Enjoy some time off. Most of you have been working academically or 12 years. Relax. Watch some movies.

I realize that it is disappointing to move back home, but the real world requires it. So find some space to virtually interact with friends and speak with them from a safe social distance. And define some time to learn on your own terms.