{"id":214440,"date":"2021-04-16T12:15:16","date_gmt":"2021-04-16T16:15:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/?p=214440"},"modified":"2021-05-04T13:13:11","modified_gmt":"2021-05-04T17:13:11","slug":"the-great-outdoor-classroom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/2021\/04\/16\/the-great-outdoor-classroom\/","title":{"rendered":"The Great Outdoor Classroom"},"content":{"rendered":"

Outdoor classes are a rite of spring on campus, but this year, instruction al fresco brings the added benefit of providing open-air, socially distant learning in a safe environment. The University has set up several tents and, as the weather improves, a number of classes are using them.<\/p>\n

When NBC4 NY<\/a> visited campus on April 8 to report on what the University is doing to provide in-person education while keeping the spread of COVID-19 in check, one of the classes featured was STAT 109: Statistics, taught by Klodiana Shkembi, program associate in Applied Mathematics and Statistics, and Course Coordinator Elise Lahiere.<\/p>\n

Graduate assistant Dong Kim was leading a focus group session using hypothesis testing to compare statistics for two different groups of individuals. \u201cWe were discussing the statistical techniques needed to understand the outcome of the trial,\u201d says Shkembi. \u201cIt is a very relevant topic since the COVID-19 vaccines underwent statistical testing using the same principles.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div>
\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

Despite the occasional wind gust knocking over a whiteboard, Shkembi says the tents are working well and are successful in \u201ckeeping our students engaged in a safe way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Shkembi, Lahiere and Kim have also optimized virtual learning methods. In fact, Shkembi says, \u201cSome things are easier to do virtually. For example, we often use tables of statistical information, and in an online course, it is much easier to use and refer to the tables when working through example problems.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Students
Students attend a statistics class outside.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Other lessons, however, require physical presence \u2013 particularly when the course is Physics.<\/p>\n

The students in PHYS 192, University Physics II, were studying \u201csimple harmonic motion of spring and simple pendulum systems\u201d outside Richardson Hall on April 8 with Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy Rodica Martin.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe choose to do Physics labs outdoors in order to limit the time and capacity indoors, maximize air flow, and take every precaution to limit the spread of COVID-19,\u201d says Martin. \u201cAnd it seems to work very well for physics experiments.\u201d Martin said that the tents, unlike a less formal outdoor situation, \u201chelped define the classroom-like settings, and helped us reconnect with the regular lab experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite some difficulties, such as talking through double masks, Martin says, \u201cIt feels good to return to on-campus activities, and students also seem to appreciate in-person learning opportunities. Overall the labs went well, and we will have the remainder of them the same way until the end of the semester.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Close
Physics students study \u201csimple harmonic motion of spring and simple pendulum systems\u201d outside Science Hall.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Students working in tents during an outdoor physics class.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n<\/div>
\n
Rodica Martin, assistant professor of Physics and Astronomy, teaches students in PHYS 192, University Physics II, outside.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n
\"wide
Physics study \u201csimple harmonic motion of spring and simple pendulum systems\u201d under tents outside Richardson Hall and Science Hall on April 8, 2021.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Story by Staff Writer Mary Barr Mann<\/p>\n

You may also like:<\/p>\n