Page 14 - 2020 OIT Progress Report

The first few days of the term were busy as faculty became acclimated to the technology and to the nuances
of SMUFlex instruction. However, the feedback from both faculty and students has been very positive.
According to Dr. Molly Ellis, “The advancements to classroom Technology, as a response to the demands
of the pandemic, not only serve to help create space for instruction in the current term, but also create
opportunities for future teaching practices.” There is a definite excitement about the future opportunities with
more highly equipped classrooms to connect students and explore innovative teaching styles.
The benefits of remote learning have greatly outweighed the challenges, and I’m looking forward to seeing how it continues to shape the student experience.
“As a graduate student,” commented Simmons School of Education and Human Development
student Mariel Hess, “I’m grateful for the opportunity to utilize technology in order to
attend class and collaborate with members of my cohort. There have been some challenges, however, I believe there are ways this can be
overcome through instructors and students becoming more acclimated to the technology
over time. The benefits of remote learning have greatly outweighed the challenges, and I’m
looking forward to seeing how it continues to shape the student experience.”
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