Dr. Paola Premuda-Conti, Canvas class discussion boards, CP 6691, Term 4 (March – May 2020)
EXTRA POINTS DISCUSSION BOARD.
Post by Dr. Paola Premuda-Conti
Dear students,
Dr. Martin T. Olliff, is Professor of History and Director of The Wiregrass Archives at the Dothan Campus. He recently launched a research project, “The Wiregrass under COVID-19 Documentation Project” (see his email down this page). This project is asking people living in the Wiregrass to submit "dairies, journals, and similar documentation of your life during the COVID-19 period".
I thought we could support our campus and at the same time and give you the opportunity of earning 5 extra points in this class for your participation in this discussion board.
Here is how: discuss your life during this COVID-19 period with your classmates, and react to them. I will be posting in the discussion as well. This discussion will be open until the last day of term 4, May 17, 2020.
This is a link to the project: https://today.troy.edu/faculty-staff/wiregrass-archives-looking-to-preserve-social-history-of-covid-19/
Below is Dr. Olliff's email asking for collaboration with the Wiregrass Archives Covid-19 project:
From: Martin T Olliff
Sent: Friday, April 3, 2020 11:54 AM
To: Dothanallusers <dothanallusers@troy.edu (mailto:dothanallusers@troy.edu) >
Subject: Documenting our experiences in this historical era
Students, Staff, and Faculty at the Troy Dothan Campus,
We are living in a historical era. COVID-19 is a once-in-a-century event that, although none of wanted to live during it, is here.
The Wiregrass Archives at the Troy University Dothan Campus has initiated a project entitled “The Wiregrass under COVID-19 Documentation Project.” It solicits dairies, journals, and similar documentation of your life during the COVID-19 period, in any hard-copy or digital medium to be added to its collections for future research use. The Wiregrass Archives has a very broad definition of projects it can accept. Thus far we have received 2 emailed memoirs and promises of a journal, a series of YouTube recordings from 3-4 professors, and a texting string involving 13 friends.
You can learn more about the project here https://today.troy.edu/faculty-staff/wiregrass-archives-looking-to-preserve-social-history-of-covid-19/
Also, if you know of any Pre-K through 12 classes doing any reflection or reaction projects (writing, art, video/audio, etc.) pass this along to them, please.
If you are self-documenting this historical era or are part of a class doing so and want to donate your work for permanent retention in the Wiregrass Archives, contact the director (who happens to be me), at molliff@troy.edu (mailto:molliff@troy.edu).
Y’all stay safe and well.
Regards,
Dr. Martin T. Olliff
Professor of History
Director, The Wiregrass Archives
Everett 221
Troy University Dothan Campus
USPS: PO Box 8368; Dothan, AL 36304
UPS: 502 University Dr., Dothan, AL 36303
Email: molliff@troy.edu
Phone: 334-983-6556 x21327
Fax: 334-873-4025
Student Responses
Post by [Student Name Redacted], April 11, 2020
My life during this time in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging to say the least. It has touched every aspect of my life and those around me. It has changed the way I work, interact with family, go to school, handle regular household demands, and do business.
The biggest challenge for me has been working from home with a one and a three year old. It is impossible. I cannot leave them to their own devices due to their age, and they are constantly in need of something. Whether it is a drink or a snack or just attention, I can barely go five minutes without helping one of them. I leave the TV on way too long in the hopes that they will be entertained for 20 minutes so I can finish an email or a project for work. Work is right in the middle of a system change and we are about to hit our busy season. I feel terrible for throwing them in front of the TV and not interacting with them like they should be. At daycare they had constant learning and interaction. I know they also watched TV, but not nearly as much. I feel like a terrible mother, but I have to do it in order to keep my job to support them. My husband is still out working so he is not here during the day. I am keeping my mother and mother-in-law away for fear we will give the virus to them as they are in the high risk category.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the extra time with them. I am just having a hard time working out a schedule and balance between them and work and it is causing major stress on me at the moment. Luckily, we live in the country so there is plenty of room to run and play outside. The weather has been lovely lately and I am so grateful for that. I am having to give myself more leeway than before and not stress over things that I normally would. I have to stop in the middle of the work day to take them outside so they can run and play. I feel like a bad employee and it goes against my work ethic, but it has to happen to keep the peace.
I went to Publix the other day and I felt like I was in a Science-Fiction movie or novel. It was the strangest feeling. Everyone wearing masks. People afraid to get too close. Overhead announcements in peppy and upbeat tone asking shoppers to be mindful of the six feet rule and to follow the directional arrows on the floor to shop. You cannot turn on the TV, look at social media, open a newspaper, or listen to the radio without immediately seeing or hearing something about the virus.
I don't know how long this is going to last or what lasting impacts will be felt because of it, but I can tell you that there will be many. I believe our economy is going to suffer, more than it already has, and I believe a lot of mental health issues will arise from this. Businesses, families, and whole communities will suffer before this is all over with. I just hope it ends sooner rather than later and that once it has passed we will all be able to heal together.
Reply to [Student Name Redacted] from Richard Schermerhorn, April 12, 2020
We have a three year old too. She was going to half-day preschool before everything shut down. She's taken it about as well as I would expect a toddler to, but she's still restless and hyper at home. We've started printing out coloring book pages for her to color. We've read every book in her library and we've subscribed to some kid-friendly apps for her to use. But it seems like each day lasts a week.
Reply to [Student Name Redacted] from James Fitch, April 13, 2020
I went to Publix on Saturday and I felt the same way! It reminded me of the years I lived in Iran actually. I went to Walmart and was buying fruit and the guy stocking producer was standing behind me to replenish the apple supply. So I turned my head towards him and said "hi". He stopped breathing, didn't speak and waited for me to leave. Honestly, in my opinion, as a whole, the reaction to this is just a little over the top. We are told it has a fourteen day incubation period. I truly believe we have surpassed that as a whole. I think it is time to open back up and let those who are vulnerable stay home or have limited contact. Again, that's just my thoughts on it.
Post by Richard Schermerhorn, April 12, 2020
Frustrating is the word I think best encapsulates my situation with the shelter-in-place recommendation and COVID-19.
I specifically registered for classes that met on campus because I do better in a classroom setting than I do online. The no-notice transition to online only classes pushed my already frantic anxiety level even higher.
At work, we have many international clients. We send field engineering teams out to perform maintenance or install new systems on every continent. Since we manufacture and service equipment vital to public safety, we are exempt from almost all travel restrictions. Unfortunately, my company relies on international business for most of its revenue. Since most foreign governments are limited to essential personnel only, their purchasing departments aren't working on procuring the type of equipment we sell.
My three year old daughter doesn't understand the situation. She knows that we can't go to places like we used to because of the coronavirus. My wife stays at home with her and works as hard as she can to create an entertaining atmosphere for them both, but it's frustrating to see so many people in our own neighborhood disregarding the limited contact recommendations. A neighbor just had a big party last Friday night. We could hear the entire thing from a few houses down. I shudder to think of what would happen if any of them were infected while asymptomatic.
As of today, the government puts its best case scenario as somewhere between 50,000 and 100,000 deaths. That's frightening in its own right, but to see so many people act so indifferent to the real threat of transferring the virus while not showing symptoms, I have to wonder if those numbers will get revised again.
At least we have plenty of toilet paper.
Response to Schemerhorn by James Fitch, April 13, 2020
I completely agree. I truly struggle with online classes, this is why I do not take them. It isn't so much the focus or discipline to complete the work, it is the inability to engage in real conversations and have full discussions as we would have in a traditional class setting.
Response to Schemerhorn by Samantha Krietemeyer, April 14, 2020
Richard,
I completely agree with you that the indifference is frustrating. It's so sad to know that people are not going to take this virus seriously until it affects them personally. One of my friends has children who desperately want to go play with the group of neighborhood kids who are still actively playing down the
street. She said her oldest son just watches them out the window and cries. That is unfair to me. The people who are following the stay at home orders are being punished.
I will keep your family in my thoughts. I hope your daughter is enjoying this time with you both! That's got to be a plus!
Samantha
Response to Schemerhorn by Katie Estrada, "Tuesday" (n.d.)
I have to agree with these classes online have made my anxiety go up beyond measures. Learning and finding the time to teach yourself, has been a challenge.
Post by James Fitch, April 11, 2020
During COVID-19 I have been going about my daily activities as much as possible, I just do it with less traffic. I have been to the beach a few times. My girlfriend and I rode my motorcycle down and purchased her a new bike. I have been making improvements around the house as well. I replaced the fence around the pool, I have spreading weed killer and grass seed in patches on the yard the dogs have messed up. I put up a pergola. We have been deep cleaning a lot as well. We had my girlfriends birthday party and invited a small group of friends and a we have had a of couple of cookouts as well. My thoughts are if we isolate and quarantine, we will get rid of this virus because nobody will build up immunity to it.
Reply to Fitch by Katie Estrada, "Tuesday" (n.d.)
That's great this is the time to get as much done before it gets back to the norm.
Post by Samantha Krietemeyer, April 14, 2020
My husband and I are "doers." We each have jobs that require passion, motivation, and the sacrifice of personal time. He is a lighting designer for concert productions (primarily weekend work) and the accountant for the company, and I am a teacher (daytime) and photographer (weekends/night).
We had finally decided to reward ourselves with vacations. He and I scheduled a vacation to Ireland -- even blocking the dates out months in advance. I signed
up to be a chaperone on a school trip to Costa Rica. Our jobs and all our best-laid plans for the foreseeable future have been derailed. The weddings, portraits, and events I had scheduled to shoot all have been postponed indefinitely; the concerts and events my husband had scheduled to work have all been cancelled or postponed. We have -- thankfully -- received a refund for our Ireland deposit. The Costa Rica trip has been postponed (and participants, including the students at a Title I school, do not have the possibility of a full refund).
The financial stress of this pandemic has been unreal for my husband, in particular. My husband's company has filed for the Payment Protection Plan and have, luckily, enough funds to sustain their reduced salaries a few months longer. Beyond these months, we are unsure if he, or if those employees depending on him, will have a position. Recent estimates indicate that concerts and similar events may not return to normal until the fall of 2021. Because of this, we are living in uncertainty.
Both of our families are at-risk. My father recently underwent open-heart surgery, and my husband's sister has an infant at home. My brother is an ER doctor and is, therefore, constantly exposed. We have not been able to touch or visit with our families; this has been very difficult as we are accustomed to weekly interactions pre-Covid.
While all of the preceding paragraphs are complaints, I know we are not the worst affected. We are fortunate and are making the most of this situation. During the Covid-19 pandemic, we have tried to busy our minds and bodies with work. We have cleaned, organized, pressure-washed, and worked in our yard. We have begun a vegetable garden, and I'm trying my best not to kill the "hearty" flowering plants I've purchased. We are taking daily walks, and I've begun following Yoga videos on YouTube.
Things could be far worse. As of now, Covid-19 is merely an inconvenience in our daily lives. We are thankful to be together and are thankful the virus has not struck closer to home.
Reply to Kreitemeyer by Madyson Varnes, "Tuesday" (n.d.)
Samantha, I know how this virus has disrupted so many plans has been disappointing! You surely do deserve that Ireland trip. But I'm glad to see y'all are making the best out of the situation by working around the house, walking, and doing Yoga! I've started working out more, as well! Hopefully thinks return to some normalcy, especially for your husband's company. Thank you for sharing!
Post by Alissa Evans, April 14, 2020
With this pandemic occurring, it has changed a lot plans I had for myself. It has placed me in a position of thinking things through more directly than I was before. Before this occurred, I was always thinking ahead and not being in the moment as I thought I was doing before. Yet with the current situation, I realized I have not "smelled the roses." In addition, it has made me look at our country and how we should be treating one another with more care in mind. Furthermore, this had made me further appreciate the relationships that I have with family. Although, this has been a really anxiety striking time for me, I embrace all the feelings I have experienced so far. I have had some moments where I have no motivation to do anything from all the news I hear. With that being said, I have had to disconnect myself at times for my own sanity. I take this experience as a lesson for things that I may have to face in the future and learn to keep pushing forward with a smile.
Reply to Evans by [Student Name Redacted], April 18, 2020
I have had to disconnect from the new due to the same reasons. There are so many conflicting stories out there now that it is hard to keep track and then the news piles up politics on top of it. It stresses me out more than informs me and I have to just keep to weather mews and local news. I do check in every few days but then I get frustrated and move on to something else.
Post by Brittany Riddle, April 16, 2020
I am a middle school math teacher and COVID-19 significantly impacted by day to day activities. I have lost all control of my schedule for each day and the activities I would normally do. At the beginning of this new time in distance learning, it was a huge learning curve, not only for my students but for me as well. I spent most of the first two weeks preparing work for students and reaching out to all of my students via phone.
Once we returned to school from spring break, I spent most of my mornings checking in to see if students had completed their weekly online form and making videos of the packets they were supposed to complete over the next three weeks. Teaching math face to face is difficult for some students, and now they no longer have a teacher to help them. This was a frustrating situation for a lot of people. I was able to use my cell phone and record myself working part of the packets and posting those for my students to watch.
Every afternoon since March 16, my husband and I meet my father in town and walk for about an hour around his neighborhood. We have always been somewhat of an active family, but our physical activity has increased during this time! Today I finally convinced my husband to buy us bikes, and we are going to add biking to our list of activities we are trying out during COVID-19!
My students and work have settled down into more of a routine now. The craziest thing I accomplish during the day is trying to work problems for kids through text messages and emails. By Friday of each week, any student that has not checked in online, I contact them via phone and write up lesson plans and documentation on student contacts. Our district is sending out a new set of work for students, so I am going to be spending my days recording lessons again. In Florida, the original plan of returning to school May 4 has not been changed. It will be interesting to see if the Governor announces anything differently this week.
Reply to Riddle by [Student Name Redacted], April 18, 2020
oh wow I cannot even imagine how hard all this has been on teachers and students. You are doing great and your students sound lucky to have you!
Post by Trudi Boyd, April 17, 2020
Living through this whole COVID-19 pandemic has been a roller coaster. At first, it seemed as though it was only going to affect other countries, then it started happening here. I wasn't very worried at first and I told myself that I wasn't going to panic over it. Lots of people die every year from viruses. Then the numbers kept going up and up and I thought, okay, this is not good. Still, I told myself I am not going to be one of those people that runs out and buys the store out. Then everyone started going crazy at the store and buying up all of the essential supplies like toilet paper and cleaning items. I felt like I had no choice but to go do the same thing, not so much because I was worried about the virus, but because I didn't want to be in a situation where something bad did happen and then I am not able to find the items that I need. So here I go stocking up on food to last for weeks, water, and yes, even toilet paper. I kind of felt silly, but I did it anyway.
I was still going to work everyday, but we were closed to the pubic. Then we got word that we would be able to work from home if we were able to telework. So I have been working from home since April 2nd. It has not been the easiest thing to do. In fact, it can be quite overwhelming trying to do from home what you do in the office. My kids are home and they are trying to keep up with their work as well. Between school and work, my dining room table is completely covered up with laptops and papers.
So far, I don't know anyone that has COVID-19 and I hope that no one that I know and love gets it. I am trying to stay positive and practice social distancing and all of the things we should be doing. So far my family has been blessed. For the first time in my life, though, we did not have our family Easter gathering. That was hard because that has always been a special holiday for my family and even more so since my mother passed away on Easter Sunday 2013. I do feel bad for my son, also, he is a senior and should have been enjoying his prom and all of those senior moments that they are missing out on. Hopefully, they will still get to have a prom and a graduation ceremony.
Anyway, I hope this is all over soon and things can get back to some sort of normalcy, although, I think things are going to be a little different once this crisis is over.
Reply to Boyd by Richard Schermerhorn, April 18, 2020
"I think things are going to be a little different once this crisis is over."
They've been discussing the changes we are collectively making on the radio. After this is over, are people going to want to pay $25+ to go sit in a crowded movie theater? Are stores going to keep their expanded curbside service? Will restaurants continue to sell staple ingredients along with their food? Will online education, even in primary, middle, and high school, gain more acceptability? Will telework become more commonplace? I mean, we've really seen how many in-person meetings really could have been just an email.
There are so many ways we have had to adapt, and in some ways for the better, that it seems silly to go back to the old way of doing things.
Reply to Schermerhorn's reply to Boyd, by [Student Name Redacted], April 18, 2020
I agree that this is going to change the face of business and education. It has been interesting to see how everyone has created new policies and processes so quickly. I am curious how this will have lasting effects.
Reply to Schermerhorn's reply to Boyd, by Brittany Riddle, "Monday" (n.d.)
It's interesting now that some things are starting to open back up how there seems to be a divide with people. They are either starting to carry on their "normal" lives again or still staying inside! The new regulations and requirements for business do not seem to stop some people from getting back out! Even with some businesses opening back up, my husband and I are still working from home. It's cool to look back just a month ago where we were and some of our questions are starting to be answered!
Reply to Boyd by Alissa Evans, April 28, 2020
With this situation, there will be many so things that will change like Richard stated. Even through this pandemic, I'm curious of how we will go on and the impact it's going to have when going ahead. Thinking about it now, social connections will probably be done in new, creative ways. Sometimes, I wonder in the future ahead if our social connections will change more positively or negatively.
Post by Taylor McColgan, April 19, 2020
During the COVID 19 quarantine period I have still had to go into work because i am considered an essential worker. Having to go and work with consumers has been nerve-racking because the places i have gone to are in lockdown but I still have to go in and out and risk the chance of bringing some form of illness with me. Other than having to go into work a couple times a week I have been staying inside and not going anywhere unless I need to run out to get food and drinks.
Reply to McColgan by Richard Schermrehorn, April 19, 2020
What kind of work do you do? Do you wear PPE? My biggest fear right now is being an asymptomatic carrier and passing it on to loved ones.
Reply to Schermerhorn's reply to McColgan, by Trudi Boyd, April 19, 2020
That is one of my fears as well. I still have to get groceries, etc. although I am staying home unless absolutely necessary. My fiance is still having to go to work because he is essential. Although they are taking precautions, I still worry about him bringing it home, too.
Post by Paula Premuda-Conti, "Monday" (n.d.)
Dear students,
Thank you replying to this discussion board. In order to give you the points for this optional assignment, please complete the attached Gift Agreement form, sign it, scan it (or snap a clear picture of it) and return to me by email).
Thank you!
Dr. Premuda-Conti
Post by Katie Estrada, "Tuesday" (n.d.)
Life during this COVID has been an adjustment not just for me but I’m sure for everyone. Many people say that things will never be the same and I have to agree. I work in the medical field and its scary to know that there is something that can possibly kill you and still no cure. This has messed with my head especially going to work and not knowing whether or not I can get this virus and bring it home to my family and kids. We have had patients who have said that they did not care whether or not they had the virus and didn’t care whether the exposed others. Which has made me realize how individuals don’t care about each other’s. This has been a process that has been unpredicted and continues to be.
Reply to Estrada by Madyson Varnes, "Tuesday" (n.d.)
Katie, that is a huge adjustment! Especially with your work in the medical field! It is truly crazy how many people do not care who they affect. Thank you for your diligent work, and stay safe!
Post by Madyson Varnes, "Tuesday" (n.d.)
My life during COVID-19 has been very unbalanced. My hours got at the college I work at and I had to pick up a nighttime janitorial job on campus. Online classes have been difficult for me to focus on, but Zoom has made it somewhat better! I live with housemates which has been helpful in seeing people and not feeling so isolated. I have found a lot of encouragement through my local church and our members during this time, especially. I have also attempted to develop more discipline in working out and being active, as well as rediscovering how much I love to paint. I am ready to get back to "normal," but I don't know what that will be anymore. Just trying to stay safe and be smart!