COVID-19 presents altered landscape for student teachers

Karly Masters is a Senior Music Education major who specializes in the viola. Masters is completing her student teaching at Herricks High School in New Hyde Park, New York. Masters is responsible for helping to teach the orchestra, gives students individual lessons, and writes lesson plans. Image courtesy/Karly Masters.

An unexpected disruption in completing graduation requirement

For senior Music Education majors at Ithaca College, their 6-credit student teaching requirement is to be expected. However, none could have anticipated completing this graduation requirement under the conditions of COVID-19.

Ithaca College requires those working toward a Music Education degree to complete one block of student teaching during their final year.

The student-teaching requirements for Music Education majors at Ithaca College. One-block of student teaching equates to six credits. Image courtesy/Ithaca.edu.

K-12 schools in New York State have adopted a series of learning models to adhere to the safety regulations put in place as a result of the Coronavirus.

Many schools are offering students the opportunity to be fully remote, or have implemented a hybrid-model that offers both virtual and in-person instruction.

New methods of student teaching

Senior Music Education major Karly Masters is completing her student teaching at Herricks High School in New Hyde Park, N.Y. The school is operating under a hybrid model.

Masters said that Herricks High School has divided students into two cohorts to reduce class sizes.

"I see different kids every other day. It’s kind of cool because I can teach the same lesson two days in a row and improve it, so that is definitely a pro of teaching during a pandemic,” Masters said.

Masters feels lucky to have a normal teaching experience and says this year isn’t very different from a typical school year.

The James J. Whalen Center for Music at Ithaca College. The Center offers many Undergraduate programs, including Composition, Music Education, Performance, Music Theory, and Sound Recording Technology. Photo by Cam Sessinger/Ithaca Week.

Matt Suffern is a Music Education major fulfilling his teaching observation at Suffern High School in Suffern, N.Y.

Suffern said the school is operating under a hybrid program and he teaches in-person classes four days a week.

When teaching in-person, Suffern has a laptop stationed so he is able to live stream the lessons to virtual students--those not present in class.

“In my classes, 1/3 of the students are always virtual, 1/3 are in-person, and 1/3 are hybrid,” Suffern said.

Caroline Andrews, a senior Music Education major says the hybrid-learning model has made it harder to form relationships with students.

Watch: Senior Music-Ed students discuss the challenges that come with student teaching during a global pandemic. Video by Cam Sessinger/Ithaca Week.

Suffern noted how class participation has been altered as a result of the pandemic.

“Masks are also a psychological reminder to the students that we are in a pandemic and it kind of brings down the mood,” Suffern said. “Masks block students’ mouths and you can’t read facial expressions, so no one is answering any questions.”

Job security unknown, students remain optimistic 

Andrews expressed concerns relating to the uncertainty of the job field upon graduation.

“I’m very worried honestly. Not only because it’s unclear how easy it will be to get jobs, but this is an entirely different playing field now and circumstances are different,” said Andrews. “It may be potentially more difficult now to show our skills in that context.”

Suffern also described the challenges in utilizing technology as a result of virtual learning but says they are proactive challenges.

“They are gonna make the future of education better and probably more productive,” Suffern said.

Although Masters feels prepared to enter the workforce upon graduation, she does feel somewhat uncertain about the future.

“I can’t predict this will all go away by the time I get a job, realistically it won’t,” said Masters. “I feel fine, it’s just a little scary.”

Andrews is confident in the program Ithaca College offers, but worries about the uncertainties of job security after graduation.

“I know in the past people have asked for Ithaca College music-ed majors to join their programs because they like the way we’re prepared here,” Andrews said. “These circumstances just make it more difficult.