SHOP CLASSES ONLINE: INCONCEIVABLE?

The idea that a shop class at MHCC could be taken online may seem to be a strange idea, but in the wake of COVID-19 it is now a reality. I have been experiencing this firsthand and, without further ado, here is my experience.

When the COVID-19 situation really started to affect things, I was just finishing Winter Term. The only things that were changed at the time were that I had to take one of my finals online, and a spring break trip I had planned to go on was canceled.

As I watched and waited over spring break to find out how this pandemic would affect my education, I was under the understanding that, for the most part, Mt. Hood classes would be moved online but there might be some exceptions. I figured that my program – mechatronics – would be one of those exceptions, because half of what we do is hands-on and our class size was reduced to less than 10 during Winter Term.

As it turns out, I was mistaken. My classes were moved online and the courses I would take were altered a bit. I was somewhat shocked, at first. My mind was aflutter with thoughts and questions and I wasn’t sure whether I could handle taking my classes this way. However, I knew my best option was to give it a go, at least.

Overall, it actually hasn’t been that bad ,despite being a bit strange.

I don’t care for using a virtual trainer for the hands-on part as I prefer to get a feel for how things work, where I can, but I am glad I can at least see how things connect up and work together.

I also appreciate that the staff in my program were considerate of keeping us on track to graduate. Basically, it isn’t the greatest way to take classes, but it is acceptable under the circumstances.

The moral of the story is that the college is doing its best with the hand it has been dealt. Taking shop classes online isn’t the greatest, but it works and, in my case, this lends credence to the saying: Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.