Luz Calvo looks at student work and grades papers from the comfort of her living room — with her dog, Nopalitito, nearby.
LUZ CALVO
sits on her couch in her
Oakland home in a comfortable pair of jeans and sneakers. Her dog, Nopalitito, wants to receive some attention, but she stays focused on her computer screen. She might look relaxed, but Calvo is
teaching and under a great deal of pres- sure. Her students submitted their term papers at 11:59 the night before, and she is furiously grading papers and e-mailing stu- dents who requested a deadline extension due to "technical difficulties." The Califor-
nia Faculty Association member and chair of the Ethnic Studies Department at CSU East Bay has never met most of the students enrolled in her online course face to face, but has invited them to drop by her office and say hello. Calvo enjoys the freedom and flexibility
of virtual teaching. She can work at home in her pajamas any time of the day, or "teach" while sipping lattes at her favorite café. It's just as much work as teaching regular classes, but it's different.
February 2012 / www.cta.org
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