Pioneers adapting to alternative delivery classes

Platteville, Wis.- The winter athletic season was just wrapping up at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and the spring athletic season was ramping up.  Then March 13 the COVID-19 pandemic put a stop to all athletics and in classroom learning across the country. 

The roughly 450 students-athletes at UW-Platteville were sent home, spring sports cancelled and in-classroom learning transition to alternative delivery. Many of the student-athletes were in the same situation, learning a new skill to continue on their path to graduation. 

Fortunately, athletes are known to be able to adapt to the situation and find ways to be successful and continue to move forward with the goals they set.  Letsgopioneers.com spoke with four current student-athletes on the challenges, positives, which methods of delivery they enjoy and how being an athlete has helped them during this time.

Women's basketball junior Maiah Domask: "Early I struggled to fully grasp and understand the material due to the lack of immediate back-and-forth communication. I struggled to find a balance between everything I needed and wanted to do.  Now I have a schedule for myself with set times that I do school/homework, work out and hang out with my family."  Domask (Waupun, Wisconsin) is a double major in psychology and Spanish.

Women's track and field junior Gwen Orr: "A challenge I faced was motivation.  It is difficult to motivate yourself when you are limited to socializing with others mainly through forms of social media and screens instead of straight forward human interaction."  Orr (DeForest, Wisconsin) is majoring in industrial engineering.

Women's soccer junior Taylor Gamble: "I enjoy that I can do the work at my own pace, which allows me to spend time with my immediate family and pets."  Gamble (Round Lake, Illinois) is a double major in psychology and criminal justice.

Domask: "You develop and enhance your independence.  As one of my challenges is understanding the material, I have taken extra time to read through my textbook, use online resources and call up friends.  To succeed in alternative learning, you need to be able to run a crash course with yourself to figure out ways that work for you.  Another thing it enhances or develops is self-reliability.  It is very easy to slack off and miss deadlines or do the bare minimum to just get by.  To succeed in alternative learning, you need to be able to count on yourself to get your stuff done."

Orr: "Morning classes got me up and out of bed in face to face learning, but I can concentrate better in the afternoons, so shaping my schedule to accommodate my strengths is a plus."

Wrestling junior Luke Pradel: "I have been productive because I can stay at my computer for hours in order to do homework, and I have time to workout, which keeps me sane." Pradel (Oswego, Illinois) is majoring in health and human performance and physical education.

Orr: "I have a professor who is recording his lecture slides how he would normally present to the class, putting his voice recordings on his slides and explaining it how he would in class.  I really like and enjoy his classes even in alternative mode."

Gamble: "One of my professors has handled this transition so well.  She is sending out an email on Sunday's with due dates and resources then doing optional office hours every Monday and then meets with students two at a time on Tuesdays to check in on us."

Domask: "The method of delivery I enjoy most is when classes are held over zoom.  I find it beneficial than another form of delivery, one of my Spanish classes meets on zoom in our regular scheduled time, another Spanish class has optional zoom class every other week, where we are able to ask questions and discuss class material.  Lastly, one of my psychology courses requires individual weekly check-in meetings, where we again have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss class material, on top of just talking about life and having a laugh with the professor.  I like zoom because it allows us to talk with professors and receive immediate feedback."

Pradel: "I enjoy my adapted aquatics class.  We have discussions and we have to read articles or watch videos; our professor even brings in guest to our zoom meetings and allows us to ask questions to help us understand what experience we would have been receiving.  This time has been a huge adaption for everyone, professors and students all had a tough two weeks of figuring out a system.  When teachers are open to suggestions and able to change for the better and realize we have lots to do; they are doing a great job."

Gamble: "Being an athlete has prepared me to deal with the stress and knowing how to keep on top of school and sports, so during the pandemic I haven't struggled much after I created a schedule for myself much like I had during the season."

Domask: "Being an athlete has helped me adapt to these difficult times in many ways.  Time management is crucial as I live by my daily planner to keep myself organized.  Healthy habits of exercising regularly, eating good foods, and getting enough sleep is all normal for me, it just in a different location now."

Pradel: "Wrestling has helped me adapt in many ways, first in wrestling I was constantly changing my schedules and routines depending on the time of the season so I was ready to adapt my schedule for online schooling.  Also, just as I had to manage my diet and go through tough workouts, I have developed a strong work ethic and I enjoy getting the job done so I have been able to sit through my work even when it is challenging in order to complete it."

Orr: "I think that being an athlete can both helpful and hurt through these difficult times.  It hurts to not be able to support my team through the pandemic when I have been by their side through other hard times in their lives.  It hurts not to see them growing every day through practices and meets that would have happened every weekend.  You cannot help but feel a loss and sense of hopelessness through it all.  But it can help through all the strong friendships you have gained through your sport.  The people who know you best, know what you are going through, the people struggling through the same losses you are.  A strong support system truly helps overcome uncertain situations.  Being an athlete has helped to adapt to the situation by teaching us adversity, resilience and management.  If something knocks you down, you have the ability to stand up strong after it."

Domask: "The support system I have with my teammates and the entire Pioneer Athletic Department that make sure I am doing okay and to hold me accountable really helps to keep a smile on my face."