Distance learning a unique challenge for 'hands-on' classrooms

MEDINA — "You can't send a diesel truck home with every student or show them what it's like to ride along with EMTs right now," Medina County Career Center Superintendent Steven Chrisman said Tuesday as his building prepares to expand online learning. "Our director of technology, Mari Englehart, has done a tremendous job helping us prepare for this and setting up necessary infrastructure. However, even considering that, our lab instructors and students are going to be facing difficult situations." On the academics side, Chrisman said the building is "readily prepared" to move into online learning for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, made easier by the fact that many academic courses had large online components even before virus worries sprung up. With lab activities needed for course completion, the road to bridging the gap for students isn't quite as smooth. Cosmetology instructor Becky Hambley said she's worried about her students being able to meet a 1,500-hour requirement needed to gain state certification. "It's a big challenge for all of us," she said. "We're going to start off with pedicures and try things like having them cut one of their parent's hair or style their own hair. Whether that is going to be able to count toward their hours is still to be determined. We're waiting to hear back on that from the Ohio State Cosmetology and Barber Board." "I have seniors who are so close to being done, around 30 hours away," Hambley added. "They deserve to be able to finish after putting in so much work." So far, there is little direction from the Ohio Department of Education. "We are working diligently to get the answers as things continue to unfold," said Mandy Minick, ODE spokeswoman. "We are working together with state and non-state agencies/credentialing bodies to determine some of these answers. What I can tell you is our goal is to be able to provide as much flexibility as we can within our authority." Chrisman's son is currently in the firefighter/EMT program. "In these fields, there are needed checkoffs before students are eligible for state tests," he said. "The Cleveland Clinic isn't allowing any sort of ride-a-longs right now. Obviously, I don't fault them for that. It's what needed to be done, but it's one of those things we just can't replicate." Chef/restaurant instructor Tony Stanislo is handing down assignments to cook at home and plans on tapping into a large selection of culinary tutorials that are available online. "Clearly, it's going to be very hard to recreate the experience of working together in a restaurant and serving guests," he said. "It's going to be impossible for me. My class doesn't have an hourly certification like cosmetology, so these activities will be able to go toward their certificate of completion." Already using online curriculum in place of books before the building closed, automotive technology instructor Darin Lewis said he's considerably well-prepared for distance learning aside from being unable to place vehicles in front of his students. "I'm meeting with the kids in video chat and had a meeting with my seniors today," he said. "That's pretty much where we're at. I'm going to be sending videos to them that I dig up online but there's not much we can do outside of that right now." Automotive technology students work toward their entry-level Automotive Service Excellence exam, having two chances to take it per academic year. In the event that schools are reopened before the end of the term, instructors and Chrisman agreed that there could be a sudden run on available class and computer space as students scramble to make up for lost time. Chrisman said if that occurs, seniors would be given priority and that measures to increase capacity such as making use of adult education facilities could be taken. "We really feel like we owe our seniors what we offered to them," he said. "Quite honestly, they have the shortest time span. We have a very collaborative group of superintendents among career tech buildings in the area and these issues are being discussed. We all want to do what's best for all of our students. "Our greatest hope is to return before the end of the year but, right now, there's not really an indicator of that happening." Contact reporter Jonathan Delozier at 330-721-4050 or jdelozier@medina-gazette.com.