Spotlight on Science: High School

Natalie A. Trout
Marketing & Communications Specialist

Canterbury science classes often involved a lot of hands-on labs and experiments. Adjusting to COVID-19 protocol has been a real challenge for science teachers.

Julie Ervin, who teaches AP Biology, Biology, Anatomy, Microbiology, and Reproductive Health at Canterbury High School, said wet labs have been greatly affected by the pandemic, but she and her fellow science teachers at the high school have worked hard to keep as many as possible in the curriculum.

"Online labs are not a good replacement for actual labs and really don't teach students how to think," she said. "Students learn best by failing, and performing a cookie-cutter lab online that always works does not promote critical thinking."

Still, Ervin perseveres and makes the adjustments needed. She's been impressed with how her department has handled the challenges of the pandemic. She said many people don't realize how much time and energy has gone into ensuring that Canterbury students are receiving quality content and education. Teachers have spent countless hours, even on days off, to create the best experience possible for every Canterbury student.

"My department is amazing," she said. "Very quickly, they picked up online learning and turned any and all assessments and labs to computer-based."

With so much changing so quickly, Ervin takes things a day at a time. She said it's easy to get overwhelmed if she looks too far into the future. Her goal is to finish the year with a positive attitude, and she hopes to look back and know that she did the best she could to continue each of her students' learning.

"I am happy to be a science teacher at Canterbury," she said. "I know that my kids are learning what they need to know to continue forward with their science education."

Note: Photo was taken prior to the 2020-21 school year.