Remote Learning Likely to Remain Part of Schooling By JOSELYN KING Staff Writer Remote learning is likely to remain a vital part of school curriculum even after the COVID pandemic has passed, but it won't be daily classroom teachers preparing online lessons, according to Ohio County Schools Superintendent Kim Miller. Miller said it is expected outside supplemental contracts will have to be awarded to teachers taking on remote learning classes in the evenings or on weekends. It also is possible additional teachers might be hired, she said. “What we have done with our platform is awesome, and has been very helpful to our families,” Miller said. “If we were able to continue something like this, it would have to be outside the (teacher’s) contract. “Whenever we go back to five days, it will be
very difficult to maintain both systems. “But certainly, now that we know things are changing forever, this could be an awesome opportunity for students interested in non-traditional learning,” she said. It is anticipated some students and their families may opt to continue schooling at home. Online learning, however, remains difficult for students who don't have access to strong broadband internet. Miller acknowledged the issue has created an unequal culture of educational haves and havenots, though the school district has sought to provide internet to students without access in a number of ways. The school district has worked to make wi-fi accessibility available in school parking lots, permitting students and their
Learning n Now that remote learning has become such a significant part of the curriculum during the pandemic, chances are it will remain a component in the future. n To allow for that remote learning, either existing teachers will earn supplemental contracts to perform that function or additional teacher will need to be hired. n Don’t worry about saying farewell for good to snow days. At least Ohio County will call for them in future years. families to drive up and download assignments. They also have installed broadband connectivity at other buildings in neighborhoods where there is a large percentage of students without internet.
Meanwhile, Ohio County commissioners have been working with Comcast to expand broadband opportunities to areas without access. Miller said beyond this she isn't certain yet of an
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Wheeling Park High School senior Tessa Ullom learns remotely from her home. Ullom is the daughter of Ohio County Schools Innovation Coordinator JoJo Shay.
answer of how to get internet opportunities to students who do not have it. “I think the way teachers deliver their lessons and assignments has forever been changed, and we will continue to use internet accessibility,” she said. “If we ever go
back, I think it will always become an option for kids.” Another issue surrounding remote learning is accountability, and how do educators make certain students take online learning seriously, participate and do their work.
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Need for Nurses More Critical Than Ever During COVID By SHELLEY HANSON Staff Writer Nurses already in high demand in the Ohio Valley are needed now more than ever with COVID-19 surging across the country. Gail Nickerson, director of Nursing at Wheeling University, said the pandemic has highlighted the critical need for nurses in the United States and world. “This past year, the world has seen how profoundly important nurses are to society,” she said. “As the nursing shortage continues to grow, the university recognizes the need for educating and preparing nursing students to provide safe, quality care. We also recognize the need to offer programs that provide a broad understanding of public health concepts in other health care disciplines.” Attempting to train the nurses needed during a global pandemic has proven a challenge for many institutions. “Nursing programs across the country are up against unique challenges related to educating nurses in a society facing social distancing, isolation and quarantine measures, while continuing to offer clinical experiences,” Nickerson said. “Nursing education must continue to evolve in curriculum and technology to develop our next generation of nurses. Our students at Wheeling University have adapted relatively well to changes in hospital protocols and university policies regarding COVID.”
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Gail Nickerson, front row at far left, director of Nursing at Wheeling University, is joined by members of the nursing faculty and university administration following last fall’s White Coat ceremony, an annual rite of passage for nursing students. This celebration welcomes students into the nursing practice. These students, like many other nurses nationwide, will be serving patients in a medical setting soon.
At the Belmont-Harrison Career Center, high school students can obtain a nursing-related education. Students there can get nurse aide and nurse assistant training. “Our numbers in Allied Health Science are lower than usual. That may have to do with the pandemic because our recruiting was limited last year,” said Maura Birney, instructor for Allied Health Science at the career center. “Some nursing programs may require a Nurse Aide certification first. If not, it may also be a useful prerequisite. Nursing can be a rewarding career. “Nurse Aide training is an excellent way to get started in the healthcare field. You will always have a job with benefits in healthcare,” Birney added. She noted the career
center also offers a Pharmacy Technician program. At Wheeling University, Nickerson noted her students are slated to help vaccinate people as part of a community service project. “The students are witnessing firsthand what they will face when they enter the workforce, and they are preparing for that challenge,” she said. As the need for nurses continues to increase, schools will likely partner with facilities. “It has become evident how truly essential nurses are when providing safe, quality patient care. There is a high demand for nurses in the hospital setting. We have also seen an increased need for nurses as part of home health services and in long-term care facilities,” Nickerson said. “The needs at these
Nursing n With nurses in such high demand in the region, colleges are offering accelerated programs to get students out of the classrooms and into the field quicker. n For those pursuing a nursing degree, getting training in becoming a nurse aid has become a useful prerequisite. n Nursing school students and graduates should find more opportunities to exhibit their skills as partnerships between nursing programs and home health services and long-term care facilities continue to grow. locations have expanded and become more complex. As COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to rise in our community, we are grate-
ful for our partnerships with local healthcare facilities.” She noted such collaborations allow for educating the students and
assisting them with job placement after graduation. “Their experience on the front lines will help shape them into the future leaders of our healthcare community to implement positive changes in healthcare policy,” Nickerson said. Nickerson said Wheeling University has a four-year undergraduate program, in addition to an accelerated BA/BS to BSN program. “The accelerated program is designed to prepare working professionals with a bachelor’s degree in another discipline to become professional nurses who are eligible for licensure as a registered nurse,” she said. “Often students graduate with a bachelor’s degree in another field of study and then find difficulty finding employment. “This 16-month BA/ BS to BSN program is an excellent choice for that population of students. We also have an RNBSN program which can be completed fully online in one year. “We offer a Master of Science in Nursing degree with a Family Nurse Practitioner track and a Nursing Administration track.” Several other local colleges and universities offer various nursing degrees including West Liberty University, Belmont College, West Virginia Northern Community College and the B.M. Spurr School of Practical Nursing at WVU Medicine Reynolds Memorial Hospital in Glen Dale.
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