Professor Frank Marsiglio, pictured in CCIS on the Univeristy of Alberta campus. Photo credit: John Ulan
Office hours are the hallmark of many post-secondary courses. They offer the opportunity for one-on-one or group discussion with instructors as well as fellow students. And because they are an important part of the learning process, physicist Frank Marsiglio is bringing office hours online in September 2020.
A professor in the Department of Physics, Marsiglio will be teaching Quantum Mechanics (PHYS 472) remotely in the Fall 2020 term.
“Our task this fall is clear—to make online instruction as personal as in-class instruction,” said Marsiglio when asked about his plans for September. “My own experience this past semester is that, with modern technology and help from fellow (typically younger!) instructors, it is not so difficult to achieve this.”
Marsiglio will offer synchronous lectures that are also recorded to ensure everyone receives the same course material—though he hopes as many students as possible will join the synchronous lectures in order to engage in live discussion. “I really do need to be interrupted with questions, so I highly encourage students to watch synchronously if they can,” he added.
The global COVID-19 pandemic has required a mass migration to the digital world, and post-secondary learning is no exception. As the University of Alberta prepares to continue delivering course content primarily remotely in the Fall 2020 semester, the Faculty of Science has connected with some of our top instructors and scientists to illustrate what the university experience will look like in the Fall 2020 term. While delivery may look different, what remains the same is our strong commitment to an engaging and quality education and experience for our students.
Hear more about Marsiglio’s plans for Fall 2020.
How are you planning to adapt your course for remote delivery?
I will use Google Hangouts and deliver lectures at the usual time for this course, which is at 9 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. The lectures will be recorded so students can view them later if desired or needed. However, I really do need to be interrupted with questions, so I highly encourage students to watch synchronously.
What are your lessons learned from the pivot in the Winter term, and how will the fall be different for you given the longer lead time for planning?
I taught a first-year course in Winter 2020 and learned about video recording and teaching remotely. The main lesson is that attending and engaging in the lectures is essential for students—so synchronous attendance is highly encouraged.
What are you most looking forward to for the fall?
Teaching this course! I used to teach this course along with the companion PHYS 372. During that time, I tried to develop an instructor/apprentice approach—as opposed to the instructor/student model. Students will be asked to do lots of problems on assignments, some of them difficult, and I am happy to help solve them! In the past, I had open office hours, and students could drop by anytime. I will want to recreate this availability via Google Hangouts.
Any other messages of encouragement for new and returning students?
As an instructor, I definitely prefer in-class instruction for the simple reason that I get to know students a lot more easily if the instruction is in-class three times a week. So our task this fall is clear—to make online instruction as personal as in-class instruction. My own experience this past semester is that, with modern technology, it is not so difficult to achieve this. See you in September!
Learn more about how the University of Alberta is preparing to engage students for September and beyond on our Fall 2020 hub.
Students, faculty, and staff can stay up-to-date with the latest information on COVID-19 for the campus community online.