Heather Holleman's Blog, page 139

It Went Well! Remote Teaching and Me

A Calm Heart

I’ve been learning to abandon all plans and keep reasonable expectations. I’ve pared down to essentials as we practice social distancing. We’re all just home. We’re all just doing our work, but this time, it’s via online platforms. As I prepare for my first online class in a few moments, I take a deep breath and pray that it goes OK. OK means that I simply connect with my students. It’s not going to be perfect. It’s not going to be the best, but I will learn.

And it’s fun to learn.

A Little Outdoor Time

Sometimes we let Louie outside to smells the smells and see the sights. He loves sitting on the warm pavement to bask in the sun.

Since We’ve Never Been This Way Before

For the past few days, I’ve been thinking about a powerful image in Joshua 3 as a metaphor for how to behave and how to think during the COVID-19 changes to our daily life. Joshua 3 provides an account of the Israelites moving into unknown territory, apparently by way of the Jordan river. Joshua writes what the orders were and explains to the people to follow the ark. The ark always represented the power and presence of God. We read this:

When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. . . Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.” Joshua said to the priests, “Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people.” So they took it up and went ahead of them. . . So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. . . The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.

I think about being part of the New Testament royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9) who goes ahead of the people when they have never been that way before. The priests move ahead and stand firm as they hold up the power and the presence of God. They lead out. They show people where to go. Their presence with God ushers in miracles. They stand in the midst of floodwaters to guide the whole nation to safety.

I think of myself as a calm presence who holds out the power and presence of Jesus. Look here! Here is the way to safety! Here is the path to the Promised Land!

We’ve never been this way before, so we follow the ark to safety.

Asking Myself: What’s the Most Loving Thing

I recommended the cancelation of a speaking event next week because I couldn’t imagine asking people to gather when COVID-19 remains such a threat. I asked myself, “What’s the most loving thing to do?” It was to cancel. The most loving thing is to keep people safe. Asking myself this question helped with this decision.

Sometimes when I don’t know what to do, I have to ask myself, “What is the most loving thing?” It’s a question that works for social media engagement, for decisions about any given situation, and especially for times of confusion.

Preparing for Social Distancing

It’s been chaotic but also so informative as I learn about our community’s measures to avoid the spread of COVID-19. Mostly, I consider social distancing and what it means to connect better virtually. I consider the infinite value of an authentic online written voice. I consider how to teach students to express themselves well in online discussions and in virtual formats. I think about the advantages of live lectures from my home, in my real habitat, and how that serves to provide a better point of authentic connection with students. Here I am! This is how I live! Here is my coffee cup and my couch and my cats!

I’ve loved the way, at least at Penn State, we’re encouraged to allow ourselves to fail, to allow ourselves to practice new measures of patience and gracious behavior, and how we’re all in this together. It’s so far been a time of greater connection between faculty and staff and a time of greater collaboration. Times of crisis bring people together. So while we are socially distant in a physical sense, we’re more connected than ever. For this I am grateful.

On This Day: Penn State Moves to Online Teaching and Schools Cancel Class for the Next Week to Avoid COVID-19 Outbreak

What a whirlwind of a day! Amid the COVID-19 outbreaks and a rapidly changing situation regarding confirmed cases in the US, Penn State cancels all residential classes and encourages everyone to stay off campus–at least until April. At the same time, I learn that our school district has canceled classes next week.

It’s a time to think about teaching differently and a time to live as a source of comfort and peace in the midst of student confusion and fear. It’s a time to bless others and care for them.

The Italian Mamas assure me that I will love online teaching and will feel more rested and safe teaching from home. I’m imagining the possibilities and the fun of it. Students will see me in my natural habitat, and we’ll enjoy exploring various platforms like zoom and conferencing through our Canvas apps.

Meanwhile, I pray for health and safety and wisdom for travelers. With my own daughter returning from Jamaica on Sunday, I ask for prayers that she arrives to our door healthy and happy.

A Little Glamorous

Today I’m window shopping in NYC. A girl can dream.

Something New To Learn

I noticed a certain way I’ve grown today. As Penn State prepares for the possibility of moving to online instruction in case of a COVID-19 spread on campus, I, along with so many other teachers across the US, must think in flexible, innovative, and technological ways.

Flexible. Innovative. Technological. I notice how I’m not afraid or even annoyed by having to learn to integrate new platforms and applications into my teaching modules online. I stand ready! I stand eager to learn. Nobody knows what each day brings with news of more illness, so I stay flexible. There’s no fear of failure or stress. It’s more of an attitude of anticipation to learn a new way to teach.

4 Times: Be Strong and Courageous

In Joshua chapter 1, we read the repeated command to be strong and courageous. Each time, we know why the situation required strength and courage: to lead others, to obey carefully, to fight discouragement, and to be sent wherever God directs.

I take a moment and ask God to develop more strength and courage in me. I think about what in my life requires this strength and courage. And I press on because, like Joshua tells us, “the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”