Tag: remote learning

ECOS Looking For Answers

cnmchronicleLeave a comment

Story By

Mark Graven

Staff Reporter


Frustrated by what it perceives as a lack of a response in its call for improvements to remote learning at CNM,  the Executive Council of Students (ECOS) has decided to target the mid-level of the CNM  bureaucracy to get action. 

At a meeting on February 5th, ECOS decided to contact the Physics Department to try and arrange meeting with its professors to convince them to insert a lecture component in the instructional programs.

Imane Bahji, ECOS vice president, said it was puzzling that the students should be in a situation where “we have to inform educators that we need a lecture.”

Within the last six weeks, ECOS has written to the president of CNM, Tracy Hartzler, and met with the Faculty Senate, about its concerns, but little has changed, according too Bahji, a Math, Science and Engineering (MSE) major.

“All we can do is to keep on trying”  said Colin Stapleton, ECOS outreach officer.

ECOS President Alex Crossland said that it makes sense for ECOS to be persistent in trying to improve remote learning.  “We need to pursue this at various levels” he said.  

Bahji has consistently contended that students need to be able to have real time interaction with professors to clarify difficult concepts in math, science, and computer programming.  

“Otherwise students will just pay a couple hundred bucks more and take the classes at UNM, or elsewhere,”

Bahji

CNM President Tracey Hartzler said in her state of the college address in January that the enrollment for Spring semester showed an 11 percent decline over last year.  She noted that CNM is slightly behind the national average in enrollment decline–which is 10 percent, in this time of Covid.  Most of CNM’s classes have gone remote in this time, with just a few returning to campus under restrictions.

ECOS board members said they would like to meet with Linda Martin of CNM’s Office of Data Strategy, for a more in depth look at the reasons for the enrollment decline.

Bahji said she thought Spring Semester would be different after ECOS raised concerns over remote learning during the fall.

“But it is not (different),”said Bahji, noting that professors had the winter break to make adjustments.  “Now we want to express urgency,” said Bahji.

ECOS Continues Work on Remote Learning Message

cnmchronicleLeave a comment

Story by Mark Graven

Staff Reporter
CNM’ s Executive Council of Students (ECOS) decided Friday to spend at least another week drafting a letter to the CNM administration regarding making improvements to remote learning at CNM.
ECOS President Alex Crossland said ECOS could use extra time to present as complete of picture as possible of what remote learning is like for CNM students.  He said he has been attending “review meetings” for various departments at CNM, but would still like more information.
ECOS has been soliciting feedback on remote learning through its Suggestion Box, which can be found on ECOS’s CNM web page.  Concerns or suggestions can be submitted anonymously, ECOS says.
Crossland said he was not interested in being better than other institutions on remote learning, if such institutions are setting a low bar.  He said that he wants to ensure that CNM students are receiving the quality education they expect, and are paying for.
Colin Stapleton, ECOS outreach officer says that CNM may be “treating students more like employees than customers.”
ECOS Vice-President Imane Bahji, who did not attend Friday’s meeting, has criticized the “lack-of-lecture” format to remote learning as limiting interchange between students and professors, which she says, could help clarify difficult concepts for students.
ECOS members said they would consider sending a letter to the Faculty Senate, as well as the CNM administration regarding remote learning.

ECOS working on Improving Remote Learning

cnmchronicleLeave a comment

Story by

Mark Graven

Staff Reporter

CNM’s Executive Council of Students (ECOS) is working on a letter to CNM administration regarding concerns about remote learning– the primary method of instruction at CNM during  Covid times, although some “hands on” classes have returned to campus on a restricted basis.
ECOS Vice President Imane Bahji. said she would draft a letter taking up concerns and suggestions students might have about remote learning.  
ECOS board members said they would take up the draft letter at their next meeting which will be conducted remotely on October 9.  (See CNM ECOS web page for details.)

ECOS President Alex Crossland said the CNM administration might be under a false impression that the “school is doing well,” with remote learning. 

“It just feels like we are on a downward trend”

Said crossland

Bahji repeated a concern that she voiced at two previous ECOS meetings:  that remote classes lack a lecture component where students can interact with professors, ask questions, and clarify concepts.  Bahji says she fears that students feel frustrated when they don’t understand concepts, so that the may withdraw from classes, and ultimately drop out of school.
Bahji said many students are seeking “outside resources”  to acquire the understanding the expected to get from their CNM course. 
Cleopatra Romero, a CNM student, who wants to join the ECOS board,  ( See ECOS website for information on how to join ECOS.) said students could be more assertive in contacting their professor with questions.  

“We should encourage students to get in touch with their professor, if they are having trouble,”

SAid Romero


Kristopher Gaussoin, director of student life and discipline at CNM, the advisor for ECOS board, said students should be careful about using outside resources, such as UNM course materials, in that there may be legal implications– such as copyright laws involved.
Gaussoin said that ECOS has a “very powerful voice” in how the school is run,  and that the administration “cares about your opinion.” 
“You should use your power positively,” urged Gaussoin, noting that how ECOS packages its message could play an important part in getting results.
Meanwhile ECOS continues to seek input from students through its Suggestion Box on it CNM web page.  That input can be made anonymously, according to ECOS outreach officer, Colin Stapleton.
Crossland said that he was hopeful that ECOS could improve remote learning in the future, but also effect some change in the current fall semester.