MOUNT VERNON, IOWA (May 12, 2020) — When Cornell College made the decision to offer distance learning to protect its students and faculty from COVID-19, Biology Professor Barbara Christie-Pope began to rethink her Block 8 class. It required extensive lab work that was not possible online.
Because Cornell offers classes One Course At A Time, she had the ability to completely revise the course, which meets April 20 to May 13. (Cornell’s One Course At A Time curriculum has eight blocks that run consecutively during the school year and two “flex” blocks in the summer.)
The BIO 108 introductory course topic was originally focused on genetic engineering. But, Christie-Pope thought, why not teach about a more timely topic, say the COVID-19 virus? She messaged the class to offer a choice.
“I have a proposition for you,” she said. “I could continue and teach a course on genetic engineering without the lab component, or we could switch topics to an in-depth discussion of the pandemic that has caused all of this disruption in our lives, COVID-19.”
Not surprisingly, the students opted for a COVID-19 class. The course, titled "The Science of COVID-19," is covering the history of pandemics. It is also answering questions such as what is a virus, why are particular viruses more problematic than other viruses, how are infectious diseases spread and what can (realistically) stop the spread of viral infections, what is the virus that causes COVID-19, and how can the body handle viral infections.
“One major advantage we have on the block plan is flexibility on how the course goes. Even if it is changing the whole course itself!” said first-year student Victoria Spiziri from her home in Des Plaines, Illinois. “When Professor Barbara Christie-Pope gave us the option to change the course to the science of COVID-19, I jumped on the wagon and voted to change the class. I truly think it is important to learn, be aware, and have the correct information about what is going on in the world, especially right now. With taking this course, I am excited to learn about this virus, and I hope that I can help inform others who may not know a lot about it or may have misconceptions about it.”
Christie-Pope arranged virtual visits from doctors, an epidemiologist, public-health practitioners, and a nurse so students can learn how they have confronted the pandemic in various fields and in different parts of the country.
“Our calendar allows me the flexibility to take the current pandemic and turn it into a teaching moment that is relevant to our students’ lives,” Christie-Pope said. “I find public and global health fascinating. I teach immunology; I am intrigued by disease mechanisms, and I enjoy learning along with my students.”
About Cornell College:
Cornell College is a national liberal-arts college established in 1853, located in Mount Vernon, Iowa. The historic, hilltop campus has a population of more than 1,000 students from all over the world. Our undergraduate students learn on a distinctive block-plan schedule, taking One Course at a Time for three and a half weeks before starting the next course. This curriculum allows them to fully immerse themselves in their chosen topic of study, including taking field trips to another country, diving into research, creating an art exhibit, or exploring issues in the local community.
