Boston, MA - Professors at universities throughout the country had difficult times adjusting to new forms of online teaching. Complicated programs like Zoom - which can have up to two or even three buttons to press in a single class period - left many professors unable to adapt. But while most professors gave up even attempting to understand the program, a hardworking professor at Northeastern University kept trying.
Professor Jim Hayden was waving goodbye to his students during the last zoom class of the semester when suddenly everything clicked. What once were totally unintuitive and incomprehensible symbols suddenly had clear and distinct meanings.
“It all just made sense!,” said Professor Hayden, a Tenured Professor who teaches Computer Science at Northeastern University. “Muting, turning on my video, recording, breakout rooms, computer audio - everything suddenly became obvious. I’m so excited!”
Professor Hayden’s students were similarly ecstatic to hear their professor had figured out how Zoom worked. Jessica Chu, a Sophomore CSE student at Northeastern, was enthused to hear of Hayden’s newfound capabilities.
“Does this mean we get our grades for assignment #5 refunded?” Chu asked. “Professor Hayden spent the entire class muted when he taught us how to do it. When Tommy raised a hand to ask him to unmute the professor kicked him by accident - then marked him absent 20 minutes later when he realized.”
Other students shared similar excitement to Chu. Tim Howel, a Junior Philosophy and CS student was ecstatic when he learned professor Hayden had learned what a breakout room was. “I spent the entire semester in a breakout room separate to the rest of the class. I didn’t even know you could do that. I just pray that future students don’t get treated in the same way.”
