Mr. Woodbury’s Perspective on the Evolution of Teaching Via Zoom

By: Emma Sanchez and Bella Aldridge

Since March 13th 2020, schools across the world have shut down due to COVID-19 and have resumed via Zoom nearly a year later. As a result, teachers have had to adjust to different techniques and teaching methods. 

Redwood High School began doing both in-person and online school Thursday, March 25th. Biology teacher, Mr. Woodbury is one of the many teachers at Redwood to begin teaching students both in-person and on Zoom. 

Mr Woodbury has taught multiple levels of Science in the past such as AP Biology, but is now focusing on teaching regular Biology.

With this big shift, Woodbury says that it has been socially awkward, but yet he has “had the mindset that this is an adventure in which we will be learning together,” he says. He has held an open mind towards the situation allowing him to further cope with challenges thrown at him. 

Dealing with various changes all in a span of one year has been hectic, but Woodbury has strived to keep things as simple as possible and, “established a routine for my classes so that my students more or less know what to expect when they ‘Zoom’ into my class,” he states.

Woodbury has continued to make this a more smooth transition, by implementing a “to-do list” for his classes, with information about class and links to complete assignments. Along with this, Woodbury has recently begun to make videos to help walk through an, “entire day’s lesson so they don’t have to miss out if they have internet/tech issues,” he says.

Woodbury explains, “relationships this year feel parasocial. I try to help each and every student, but it breaks my heart when I’m putting in time and effort to help students succeed but students don’t reciprocate.” He says that he among others try their best to help students to do their best, but it requires students to put in effort as well.

He is very passionate about Biology and enjoys many aspects of teaching both in person and virtually multiple times a day, however finds that teaching 10 lessons in the span of two days can get extremely exhausting at times. Though the case, one of his favorite strategies has been making videos for each lesson to, “ensure equitable learning for all students because If we work together, I’m sure we’ll improvise, adapt, and overcome any challenge,” he says.

Though this new way of teaching and learning will be hard and challenging, Woodbury hopes that the return to in-person learning helps students. Woodbury explained that he believes that mental health goes hand-in-hand with your academic health. He emphasizes, “things aren’t ‘back to normal’ yet, and it’s going to be weird since we all will have to adjust to yet another ‘new normal’. But it’s not going to be forever. A second is still a second, and life goes on.” 

Woodbury says he will continue to try his best to inspire students to appreciate Science and how life works.

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