A policy requiring education majors to conduct their student teaching virtually is proving frustrating for some students.

The department of education is not allowing students to teach in-person at their respective schools this semester because of university policies restricting off-campus travel.

Senior education major Jordan Krasniewicz is teaching at Ridglea Hills Elementary School this semester.

While Fort Worth ISD plans to allow students to return to in-person classes starting Oct. 29, Krasniewicz must continue teaching online via Webex, Google Meet or Zoom for the entirety of the semester.

“It’s probably less time getting to teach lessons and working one-on-one with kids than we have experienced in the past,” Krasniewicz said. “It’s a lot more observing what an online classroom would look like.”

Savannah Bowman, a senior education major who teaches at O.H. Stowe Elementary School in Birdville ISD, said the teaching experience is not what she thought it would be.

“So it’s just a little logistically awkward,” Bowman said. “It would be a lot easier if we were able to go in and work with them in person.”

Karrabi Malin, TCU’s director of Clinical Teaching and Community Partnerships, said student teachers are learning how to integrate technology into a “blended classroom.”

Despite the challenges online teaching has brought and the uncertainty that remains with student teaching in the future, junior education major Anna Mayes said she will remain optimistic.

“There is going to come a day when this is all going to be over and I am going to need some skills to actually physically teach,” Mayes said. “So for right now I think it’s the best that we can do.”