Practical and fine arts classes

WORKING FROM HOME Practical and fine arts teachers adjust their curriculums for virtual learning

ZERU MARUT news staff MIKA KIPNIS news staff

illustration by | ERICA SHI

PRACTICAL ARTS

WOODWORKING

As teachers come up with new ways to teach a class over the internet, Woodworking has tried a new method for the first time in almost two decades.

“We use the textbook,” Stephen Schmidt, who has taught all levels of Woodworking classes for almost 20 years, said. “I [haven’t] used the textbook [in] 19 years, probably.”

However, this shift doesn’t make up for the difficulties of online learning. For Schmidt, Zoom audio issues have been a challenge.

“I’m gonna be using my iPad to go around to different machines to demonstrate,” Schmidt said. “And there’s a lot of echo in here, and in turn, the iPad has a very sensitive speaker on it. That in turn [produces] a lot of feedback.”

Overall, the new Woodworking experience has been unusual for everyone involved. Despite the inconveniences of virtual learning, Schmidt understands that it is necessary and knows that his students understand as well.

“They understand we’re living in a world right now where everything has changed,” Schmidt said. “So most of them have been very understanding and very good about it. But I know they’re all hoping to come back so they can get their hands on the machines and material.”

Senior Annabella Seeger makes a vanilla cake. Seeger chose to focus on the pastry and baking arts this year. “It’s a much different setting because in the [school] kitchen, there’s more space than in my personal kitchen at home,” Seeger said. (Photo courtesy of Anabelle Seeger)

Without the benefit of one kitchen for all students, both staff and students in the Foods classes are adjusting to the new virtual environment.

“I would say time and delivery of material has been the most difficult,” Chef April Dalton, who teaches all levels of Foods, said.

Dalton finds that the biggest challenge is focusing on the most vital topics with limited class time. Along with other FACS teachers, Dalton had to devise a new strategy to make sure students are still taught what they need to know.

“The FACS department had to meet over Zoom and discuss what

Junior Ryan Silver lays out his Woodworking textbook. So far, his class has covered types of wood and measurements for woodworking. “I get a little bit of detail in the Zoom, but it’s definitely not to the same level that it otherwise would be,” Silver said. (Photo courtesy of Ryan Silver)

FOODS

were the essential topics we should be delivering so as to not overwhelm the students,” Dalton said.

Senior Annabella Seeger is taking an independent study in Foods, where students choose their own assignments. But with a lack of a rigid schedule, Seeger can find it difficult to start working.

“There’s already a lot of stuff on my list to do each day, so if we were in school I would have a designated time to do it,” Seeger said. “I don’t really have to meet with Chef [Dalton] in the mornings in my time slot ... so it’s kind of hard to motivate myself, but I think I’m doing alright with it.” SPREAD DESIGN BY ZERU MARUT

FINE ARTS

CERAMICS

Students taking Ceramics this year are adapting to new methods of learning pottery without being able to access the same supplies they would at school.

“We got a big thing of clay given to us,” sophomore Riley Kovacs said. “I’m not in person with [Mr. Robbins], so he can’t really help us do hands-on work when we’re making projects.”

To start off the year, Kovacs’s Ceramics I class made 3D pop-up cards. This allowed students to have an interactive experience at home before beginning to work with clay.

“When you open the card, its mouth opens,” Kovacs said. “It was a little hard to learn how to fold it online, [but] it worked out.”

Robbins uses a unique setup with two cameras to teach his classes. The first camera is facing him, which allows him to talk to students, while the second camera is facing the table at which he works, allowing the students to get a closer view of what the teacher is working on if they need a visual guide. “When someone has a question, he just helps them through it with the camera that is [pointed] on the table,” Kovacs said.

Even though virtual learning is unlike in-person classes, Ceramics students have found a way to make up for the difference. The flexibility between seeing the teacher and having an up close view helps make online learning feel more familiar.

“I feel like I’ve kind of gotten a schedule … so it’s going pretty good,” Kovacs said.

Sophomore Riley Kovacs shows her pop-up card for Ceramics. Kovac’s class used these as a way to have a hands-on experience at home. “It can be hard not having teachers there to ask for help,” Kovacs said. (Photo courtesy of Riley Kovacs)

Sophomore Sela Masaki plays the euphonium for Band. Masaki noted that without all the students together, there needs to be a mutual trust. “There’s so much subconscious tuning to the people next to you and the whole ensemble, which is just gone now,” Masaki said. “You just have to cross your fingers and hope everybody is in tune.” (Photo courtesy of Sela Masaki)

Band directors and students were forced to remodel the structure of their class due to the constraints of virtual learning.

Since the sound of musical instruments transfers poorly over Zoom, the band had to rethink practice during class. Eventually, it was decided that playing warmups, which would normally be done together as a band, would be best done muted.

“If we all unmuted, it would be chaos,” Aaron Lehde, band director, said. “One of the hardest things is figuring out how to use technology in the most effective way.”

Zoom software has not been the ideal way to listen to and transport high quality sound. However, Zoom has continuously updated their soft

BAND

ware to accommodate musicians who need to be utilizing Zoom for music classes and lessons.

“From what I hear, Zoom has an update specifically for music coming soon,” Lehde said. “However, the internet connection is a bigger problem than the microphone settings.”

The band is utilizing a new program this year called Soundtrap, which allows each student to record their part of a piece and upload it to a program that puts every part together. They can then listen to tracks uploaded from other students and hear how the final product sounds.

“The ideas behind what we do in band remain the same,” Lehde said. “[Now] it’s focusing on recording, as 9.30.20 opposed to live performances.” 07