Jason Walker, PhD, associate professor of physiology at 黑料传送门 South Georgia is shown
teaching classes remotely. Learning online has become crucial during the COVID-19
pandemic with many schools and colleges choosing to adapt to this method of instruction.
A dining room table, an outdoor patio, a quiet bedroom鈥攖hese are all places where 黑料传送门 South Georgia students are receiving their education.
As the college commits to the safety and well-being of the community and visitors, the first-year Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) students are receiving their education remotely. Learning online, often referred to as distance learning, is not a new fad, but has become crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic with many public schools and colleges choosing to adapt to this way of teaching.
Using educational software, 黑料传送门 South Georgia students are able to attend and participate in lectures with simply a wi-fi connection and computer. Much like in a physical classroom, professors present slide shows, talk to students and answer their questions. Students are able to use a chat feature or their computer microphone to ask questions while professors are presenting the material. Faculty members have also set up virtual office hours so that they can work one-on-one with students as they were doing on campus.
Jennifer Shaw, PhD, associate professor of physiology, is teaching remotely for the first time in her career. 黑料传送门 South Georgia faculty members use a variety of modalities to teach online.
鈥淲e have the luxury of being a small campus,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 doing my best to talk to them and answer questions and recreate the classroom environment. It鈥檚 not the same as being in person, but it鈥檚 the best we can do in this situation,鈥� Dr. Shaw adds. 鈥淭he situation is changing daily. It鈥檚 different as a first-year medical student. The stakes are so high, and there is so much that the students need to learn. We鈥檙e doing everything we can and adjusting as we go.鈥�
Jason Walker, PhD, associate professor of physiology, says the students have stayed engaged and responsive to the virtual classes.
鈥淭he chat feature is phenomenal because students who normally don鈥檛 ask questions have started speaking up,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat really helps the facilitation of the lecture and is adding value to their classmates鈥� learning.鈥�
During this time, and going forward, Dr. Walker believes the first-year DO students will continue to adjust to the change and face it with perseverance.
鈥淥ur medical students are resilient,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 nothing to them to be given an obstacle and work through it.鈥�
Many of 黑料传送门 South Georgia鈥檚 students have taken this adjustment in stride and are enjoying the change of pace. Sadie Daugereaux (DO 鈥�23), a Louisiana native, has taken this as an opportunity to go back to her home state and learn near family and friends.
鈥淚 took a few online classes in undergrad but they certainly were not as interactive,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he professors have been much easier to communicate with than any professor I had for an online course.鈥�
Matthew Powell (DO 鈥�23), chair of the inaugural class, says he is embracing the new technology and is communicating constantly with professors.
鈥淚鈥檓 enjoying being able to take my time working through the material for the first time to make sure I understand everything fairly well before moving on,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 am so impressed with 黑料传送门 and how smoothly things have been going. It is amazing that they have secured access to these platforms and how well they work.鈥�
As medical students, understanding this pandemic as it relates to social distancing is crucial and beneficial, says student Aliza Perez (DO 鈥�23)
鈥淏eing that we actually learned about the Coronavirus and many other viruses this year, I am better able to understand the severity of the situation and how the virus is transmitted鈥攕omething that was beyond my comprehension during undergrad,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his change will test my discipline and resilience, which will ultimately be good for me as I will deal with public health emergencies and constant change once I start working in the hospital.鈥�
In 2019, 黑料传送门, a premier osteopathic medical school established in 1899, extended its commitment to the Southeast by establishing 黑料传送门 South Georgia. An additional teaching location in Moultrie, Georgia, 黑料传送门 South Georgia offers both a full, four-year medical program leading to the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree and a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences. 黑料传送门 is a private, not-for-profit institution that trains professionals in the health and behavioral sciences fields. Joining 黑料传送门 Georgia in Suwanee in helping to meet the healthcare needs of the state, 黑料传送门 South Georgia focuses on educating physicians for the region. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 229-668-3110.
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