They say ‘start small’ is the rule when piloting something new, but Associate Professor Zach Dodson from Te Kura Hoahoa—School of Design Innovation at Te Herenga Waka didn’t have that luxury when COVID-19 hit. Like many of the University’s teaching staff, Zach was faced with the urgent prospect of building a programme online from scratch. It proved to be award winning.
Zach’s course is among the biggest in the School, teaching graphic design to more than 150 students at a time.
“It was clear we needed to have online options, and building a course like this is essentially trying to teach in two languages, both in person and remotely,” he says. “I also understand how exhausting it can be to learn online from afar. So I wanted to make sure I had created some materials that could be engaging, fun, and aware of the online culture in which they’d exist.”
One of Zach’s students was Wanaka-born Finn Bilous, who—among other things—is an Olympic skier sponsored by Oakley, Icebreaker, Quiksilver, and others.
Thanks to Zach and other Te Herenga Waka teachers’ response to the pandemic, students like Finn have been able to keep up with their studies while abroad.
Finn studied first from Colorado in the United States, where he was training, and then throughout competitions in Europe, all the while staying connected to Zach’s coursework.
“Even before COVID, it was clear I would be overseas in order to train and compete with the New Zealand National Ski Team as we look to qualify for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics,” says Finn.
“At that same time, I wanted to start my studies. I’d thought about studying alongside my skiing career for a while but struggled to find a course that caters to people in my situation. When I saw the Bachelor of Design Innovation being offered extramurally through the University, I was convinced this was the course for me, and I’ve been stoked to work alongside teachers such as Zach who have really helped to accommodate me in my unique position. I really enjoyed his delivery and responsiveness during the course. It made the process somehow less distant and more playful.”
Zach set about recording key lectures in green screen, inserting jokes, memes, and GIFs to make it all engaging. He interviewed area creatives against a backdrop of laser beams and kittens, building a vibrancy otherwise hard to replicate online.
“There is a performative aspect to teaching that goes beyond switching on a camera. You’ve got to engage, to create dialogue. One of the things I talk about in the course is how most of our communication these days involves visual media alongside older forms. From social media to texting emoji, we all communicate visually now, and I felt my lectures should be an example of this new hybrid form of communication.”
For Finn, the extra effort was worth it. His time competing in the world championships in Aspen, Colorado, contributed towards his qualifying for the Olympics. Back in Wanaka, he continued studying remotely throughout the New Zealand winter as he geared up for Beijing.
“The world is a digital place. None of that can replace face to face, but it is a global reality. That was true before COVID but is certainly even more so now. We should be grateful to teachers who do what they can to make this work for students like me or anyone else distance learning," Finn says.
Zach was honoured by Wellington for his efforts, winning a 2021 Gold Resilience Award. It was presented by Mayor Andy Foster, who noted that the University’s teachers have been on the frontline of the COVID challenge, enabling Finn and more than 650 other Te Herenga Waka students to access their education globally. All thanks to Zach and others showing a dedication to delivering compelling and dynamic education, regardless of format.