I just wrapped up a summer online-only class on “Environmental Policy & Pandemics.” I really enjoyed teaching the class, partially because I got a lot of good training for doing it before I started from @Tulane 1/

I taught this class because I wanted to understand problems associated with COVID *and* think about policy solutions. I know a lot about enviro policy, so it became the frame that we used to learn about policy. Students really responded positively to this approach. 2/

We engaged in an APD approach first, focusing on the evolution of enviro policy. We then looked at 4 pandemics: yellow fever, polio, west nile, and ebola to learn about how pandemics make policy and how policy addresses pandemics. We watched a lot of cool documentaries. 3/

Each student identified a specific-COVID related policy problem & proposed a solution to it through a series of assignments & a final policy brief.

Y’all – these are so interesting! 4/

A couple of them: health center funding to address health care in New Orleans, cashbail reform to reduce jail crowding, reducing the size of meatpacking plants, regulating legal wildlife trade, letting domestic violence victims to stay at empty hotels, + lots more great ideas. 5/

Teaching an online class that was well prepped & organized was SO different & MUCH better than the spring dash to online. A few things I liked: Hypothesis for collective annotation. Google docs during breakout sessions to brainstorm. One-on-one meetings on zoom. Peer reviews. 6/

It was also a LOT of work. I couldn’t just stroll into a class and start lecturing. There was WAY more work up front than I normally put into a class. I liked teaching it a lot, but I’m also ready for a break. 7/

I’d be happy to share the syllabus, assignments, or Canvas template with anyone who is interested. I'm also happy to chat about what I think will work (& what won't) in the fall from this experience.

Thanks to my great group of students! 8/8