By: Sophia Keller, Lion’s Eye Staff Editor, sxk1036@psu.edu 

As the pandemic continues to hold sway over universities and schools across the globe, The Lion’s Eye staff spoke with students and faculty of Penn State Brandywine to see how they are adjusting to school, on and off–campus, during the ‘New Normal.’ 

Previously in the article, “Penn State University’s Fall 2020 Plans – What Should Students Expect?,” we outlined the university’s plans for schooling during COVID-19. Plans included instructional modes varying from in-person to fully remote teaching, as well as setup for P.P.E. stations, mask and distance requirements, and more. 

Students may be unaware of the lengths Brandywine’s faculty and staff have gone to in order to ensure a safe environment on campus, while still meeting the educational needs of students remotely or in-person. With resources provided by Penn State, such as the websites Remote Work and Return to Work, faculty and staff were provided with training on COVID-19 Safety Procedures including proper social distancing, training with online resources such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom, and personal protective equipment (PPE).  

Speaking with Scott Glenn, EdD, a part-time instructor of business and economics at Brandywine, about the technical training provided by Penn State, he said, “I think it’s good for the teachers– For those who don’t understand technology, I think it’s healthy. This will serve us well, not just for the pandemic, but for the future as well, in terms of being adaptable to the student body.” 

As Dr. Glenn chose to teach in-person classes this semester, he said about his decision that, “It’s all about the students, I knew they would rather be in-person. I can do the same thing online, I’m flexible and can adapt to either mode of learning.” This past May, Dr. Glenn published an article with DiversityinEd, in which he talks about the importance of being flexible and adaptable when instructing students. Check out his article, “The Online Virtual Experience and Diversified Teaching Methods”, here. 

After the first week of classes, Dr. Glenn stated that students were responding well and participating in the class. If students need extra help, Dr. Glenn said he would meet with students in whatever way they are most comfortable. “Whether in-person or by the way of Zoom, I’m flexible because everyone is different.”  

Regarding the in-person safety procedures, Dr. Glenn told us, “Before you get to the classroom, they have cleaning supplies, in the classroom they have cleaning supplies. Gloves, wipes. . . it’s the cleanest place to be.” 

With the six-feet social distancing rule, Brandywine has effectively distanced seating within their classrooms and auditoriums. As Dr. Glenn’s class is held in an auditorium (see featured image), he stated, “There’s one student every four or five seats, they’re spread out well past six feet.” 

Erin McCarrie, a junior at Brandywine double majoring in English and communication arts & sciences with a minor in Italian, attends classes this fall semester completely remote. 

The sudden transition from in-person to fully remote classes last spring semester was abrupt for many Brandywine students and faculty. However, in terms of building relationships with students and faculty, McCarrie believes, “Last semester, when we switched to online, I was already able to establish a relationship in-person with my classmates and professors. This semester, I have had to establish that connection solely online. . .” 

McCarrie also stated that she felt last semester was an easier transition, “. . . due to the pandemic, and being inside all summer, it felt weird going back to school as there wasn’t any day-to-day change in my life.” 

When asked about the pros and cons of being scheduled for fully remote classes, McCarrie stated, “I feel that I have more time while at home to complete and understand assignments. . . I highly enjoy the professors who check–in once a week with me through Zoom, and who give me the time to complete my assignments.”  

What McCarrie dislikes about online classes is the limited in-person contact. “Zoom fatigue is a real thing, and it makes online classes extremely draining. At Brandywine, there are many opportunities to bounce ideas off of professors and friends, and this feels a lot harder to do when completing classes online.” 

Thomas Dreyer, a sophomore at Brandywine majoring in secondary education, also attends his classes fully remote this semester. Occasionally, he does commute to campus and stated that he, “. . . [felt] safe. I feel that school is handling the virus well by making the students and staff wear masks, as well as requiring everyone to social distance.” 

When asked about the preparation for classes this semester compared to last spring, Dreyer said, “. . . now I know what to expect from online learning. Last spring, I felt that both the students and the staff didn’t really know how to approach this change, especially since we had little to no warning.” 

While Dreyer does enjoy not having to commute to campus every day, he believed it was easier to lose focus while working from home as opposed to working in the educational environment provided by Brandywine. 

There are Brandywine students and faculty with different experiences this semester, such as a mix of in-person and remote learning or teaching. If your Brandywine experience differs from the ones we’ve interviewed for this article, your insights are welcome, and please feel free to contact us via email.