What are the biggest challenges for you teaching from home?
Not being able to connect in person with staff and students. If I had a dollar for every time I’ve said “you’re on mute” or “please mute your mic” I might be flying first class when borders open up again. It’s always a challenge returning to the desk after spending my lunch break sitting in the sun for 30 minutes.
What do you like about teaching from home? What has surprised you?
I like the flexibility it provides for students to still get work done, grow their knowledge and also balance a whole range of other commitments and health issues they may have. It’s surprised me how quickly students and staff have been able to learn and adapt to the challenges facing them.
Have you got a favourite place at home to work?
I have an indoor and an outdoor set-up with my office chair, on vacation from BSSC, following me around (gotta love the ergonomics). I’d like to apologise to the students who got an ear-full of my neighbour’s dog during a Google Meet last week while outside. My indoor setup is bright and breezy because you can’t be cooped up inside too much especially when it’s this sunny (at the time of writing).
Any funny, unexpected things that have happened as a result of teaching from home?
I’ve been walking to work every day which has never happened before. If you forget to turn your camera and microphone off when you’re waiting in a meeting room for an attendee they can get some unexpected views of large deliveries that arrive on a Friday afternoon (anybody who cares about this story can ask Peter Watson about it for a bit of a giggle).
I also had my first gate crasher into an advisor session today. I’m grateful to be so popular that people go out of their way to get a link to attend a private Google Meet with me before swiftly being exited.
Another unexpected thing is joining the cream of the crop being interviewed for these Q & A posts… I bet you all found taking a selfie a lot less challenging than I did.
What do you miss most about physically going to school?
I miss interacting face to face with the people we see every day, and Thursday recess morning tea. The aroma of G block after a sprinkle of rain is high on that list as well.
Anything you’d like to say to the rest of the BSSC community during lockdown?
Stay safe, stay healthy and stay out of trouble. If you’ve read this far, please comment any TV/movie/documentary suggestions to go with my recent viewing Tiger King, All or Nothing, Superstore, One Last Dance and The Blacklist.
