“College is about the relationships you build as much as the knowledge you learn,” said Associate Professor of Journalism and Mass Communication Chris Snider. This philosophy has shaped what the COVID-19 classroom looks like for Snider and his students. In times of change and uncertainty, Snider leads with empathy. “I tried my best to just...
The ethics of “Game of Thrones” was the theme of Associate Professor of Education Cris Wildermuth’s spring 2020 course in the Master of Science in Leadership Development program. In the course, students run simulations, participate in group activities and hold discussions around ethical dilemmas encountered by leaders in “Game of Thrones” and in real life....
Learning to be a pharmacist is a complex endeavor. Learning to be a pharmacist and adapting to unexpected virtual instruction was a challenge Drake faculty and students tackled together. “I felt like we were true to Drake values, especially ‘All in this Together,’” said Erik Maki, an associate professor in the Drake College of Pharmacy...
Assistant Professor of Literacy and Early Childhood Education Jen Thoma knows her students have other things going on in their lives. “Some of my students are parents,” said Thoma. “Some work jobs to pay tuition or support their families. Some are in living places without internet or adequate technology. I am amazed at their strength.”...
Attorneys working in a pandemic must build client trust without meeting in person. It’s a challenge for everyone in the profession, and a skill that student attorneys in the Drake Law School’s Entrepreneurial and Transactional Clinic are currently building. Students continue to provide legal assistance to business startups, entrepreneurs, and community nonprofit organizations. After being...
In spring 2020, Dan Chibnall was scheduled to teach a course in science literacy—and then COVID-19 erupted. “From the first day of class, we followed the outbreak of the coronavirus in Wuhan, China,” Chibnall said. “We focused on the outbreak in real time, like seeing a huge wave approaching from a distance.” Chibnall is an...
Despite a pandemic, final-year Drake University pharmacy and occupational therapy (OT) students are still gaining real-world experience through their experiential education. Every year, the experiential education team for the Drake College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (CPHS) places students throughout the country at hospitals, clinics, community organizations, pharmacies, and medical offices. When the pandemic hit,...
Students in J54: News and Reporting Principles nearly had their final exam canceled. That was instructor Lindsay Gilbert’s 7-year-old daughter Jenna’s idea, anyway. Excusing herself for a few minutes while students were writing their final stories, Jenna entered the room, reactivated the temporarily deactivated mic and camera, and took over teaching duties. By the time...
The Greater Des Moines Partnership has partnered with Drake University to provide a tutoring service to Greater Des Moines (DSM) K-12 students called the DSM Tutor Connection. DSM Tutor Connection is a web-based platform that connects families seeking tutoring for their children with Drake students pursuing education degrees who are interested in providing these services....
This is the fifth in a series of stories on excellence and innovation in online teaching—despite the challenges posed by the pandemic. The coronavirus had a significant impact on Associate Professor Jerry Honts’ molecular biology class, and not just because the course moved online. COVID-19 is now a major part of the curriculum and the...