How a Virtual Science Teacher Brings Earth to the Screen

Every year, technology produces sustainable innovations that improve the well-being of our planet. Thanks to technology, services such as Proximity Learning were created to connect students with the expert education they deserve through an inherently sustainable practice. Without commuting, paper loss, or energy consumption, virtual learning plays a small but crucial role in helping keep our planet green. 

Enter Mrs. Schuttler’s science class, where every day is Earth Day. A once-a-year movement dedicated to practicing sustainability and caring for our planet is evident in every lesson, as middle school science teacher Mrs. Christina Schuttler teaches students how to understand the natural world. While many may find the virtual learning environment an unconventional setting for teaching science, Proximity Learning’s certified teachers leverage their resources to deliver rich, immersive learning experiences. 

Meet Mrs. Schuttler

As a former virtual student herself, Mrs. Schuttler came to Proximity Learning more than prepared to tailor lessons for the virtual classroom. She began teaching online in 2015 and has now been teaching students in West Virginia with Proximity for over 4 years. Mrs. Schuttler mentioned, “That’s why I tell the [students], ‘Hey, I’ve been on both sides. I’ve been on y’all’s side as a student, and now I’m [a teacher]. So I know what kind of struggles y’all are going to come across, so here’s what helped me as a student.’”

After years of gaining teaching experience, Mrs. Schuttler is now imparting her wisdom as she is in her first year of co-teaching with an in-person facilitator who is working toward her teaching certification. “[The facilitator will] do the stuff in the classroom and the labs. I do online support to help reiterate what’s going on in the classroom. If there’s something that they’re struggling on within the classroom, then I’m like, ‘Okay, here’s a support tool’,” explained Mrs. Schuttler, giving the rundown of what a co-teaching classroom looks like. 

One of the many ways Proximity Learning is dedicated to combating the teacher shortage is by using our own virtual certified teachers to train the next generation of in-person teachers. When local teachers are not available, Proximity Learning can step in to offer virtual teachers as mentors and aids to aspiring teachers. After sharing the classroom space for a while, online teachers and in-person facilitators will quickly find their rhythm. Mrs. Schuttler attests, “We have a really great balance.”

How to teach science online

Teaching science online requires interactive instruction so students can observe and understand certain natural phenomena. While many may find teaching science online challenging, taking on the role will reveal many opportunities. For Mrs. Schuttler, any corner of the subject is a possibility: “I love science; it doesn’t matter what it is. There’s a little bit of life, there’s a little bit of earth, a little bit of space.” But when it comes to her students, she will do what is necessary to deliver a lesson effectively.

When it comes to learning science, the general perception is that you are wearing safety goggles and a white lab coat for every lesson. Mrs. Schuttler avidly debunks this. “So many people think science has to be in a lab, and it’s like, no, we’re looking at nature. We’re studying what is in the natural world.” This is where Mrs. Schuttler takes advantage of the virtual setting, as she sets up lessons where students can explore certain subjects that they otherwise could not experience in real life.

How to make a virtual science class interesting

Whether it’s teaching students about the chemical changes during cooking or observing the rock cycle, Mrs. Schuttler wants students to learn something new and up close. “If the school has access to [science props], then I try to find them the labs that correlate to what we’re learning. If not, I try to find something that’s really easy for the facilitators to get or create those kitchen labs,” described Mrs. Schuttler. With a teacher in person and online, students are able to experience science to their fullest potential.

One of the many ways Mrs. Schuttler has virtually connected her students to science is through her own microscope. “I have my own microscope, and I figured out how to connect Zoom to it. So that I could show them, since you don’t have a microscope, here’s what it would look like. Then they were like, ‘Wait, I want to get one,’” recalled Mrs. Schuttler on how she was able to take microscopic lab samples and put them on students’ screens. Not only did this virtual lab teach students something new, but it also increased their curiosity about lab tools such as microscopes. 

Additionally, Mrs. Schuttler will take students on virtual field trips to further immerse them in the content they are learning. When it was time to learn about the rock cycle, she sourced out the material that would help set up a fossil escape room activity for her students. “I actually went down to Glen Rose, [Texas], which has Dinosaur Valley. We have all these trace fossils in Dinosaur Valley, and so we went through all of that,” Mrs. Schuttler explained. By showing students that the information they are learning goes beyond the classroom, she anchors students in the real-life importance of their class. She highlights, “They really liked [the escape room] because they were like, ‘Oh wait, we can’t just go and see fossils…This is so much fun.”

What are the benefits of teaching science online?

Teaching science online increases students’ accessibility to lessons they would not otherwise be able to interact with and ensures student safety. Mrs. Schuttler recognizes that a lot of resources are difficult to obtain in person, but can be engaged with virtually, thanks to new online simulations and labs. She also emphasizes that students are at less risk of experiencing accidents because of their virtual nature. Mrs. Schuttler mentions, “It’s nice in a virtual setting, though, where if we are dealing with different chemicals or things that could become harmful, you don’t have to worry about that because it’s all in a safe environment.” While still gaining the same experience, students leave class safe and with new knowledge. 

Furthermore, Mrs. Schuttler appreciates the efficiency of the technology she works with. Students don’t have to wait a week to receive test grades back and see how well they did. Mrs. Schuttler sets up auto-grading so they can receive scores immediately. Given that most students' experiences with virtual learning are tied to the pandemic, Mrs. Schuttler wants them to know that they are not in makeshift online classrooms: “I hope that with us as a whole, they can see that Proximity is different than what they had in the past.” Proximity Learning’s teachers acknowledge the stigma that comes with virtual learning, but countlessly prove through student satisfaction and improved scores that this is not the same thing. 

Proximity Learning hypothesizes that we are right for you

For Mrs. Schuttler, teaching science is more than filling a grade requirement; it’s about exposing students to new ideas, processes, and interests. The power of Earth Day is embedded in every lesson she teaches as students are encouraged to observe, question, and interact with the world around them. Mrs. Schuttler is dedicated to delivering the best instruction she can: “I hope that even if [students] don’t fall in love with science, that they still have that love for learning something new.”

Proximity Learning is committed to setting up classrooms where exceptional students are being taught by exceptional teachers. Our live virtual classrooms are not distant lessons but rather experiences that every student gets to be a part of. We know that finding teachers to fill current vacancies can be time-consuming during this crucial point in the semester. That is why Proximity Learning is here to do all of the work for you. We’re here to help you find the teachers who will improve your school. We’re virtual done right. Contact us today to find outstanding teachers like Mrs. Schuttler for your classrooms.