As some schools return back to in-person learning, we take a look at a few of the ways teaching has changed this year, including new safety precautions and the use of continued e-learning technology. Kelly Rigg is an eighth-grade teacher in Ephrata, Pennsylvania and shares what’s it’s been like to be back teaching in the classroom full-time during a pandemic.
21-04 Segment 1: A Pandemic Education: It Continues On Into 2021
It’s been ten months since many schools across the nation shifted to online learning. Students, parents and everyone working within education have braved the many challenges of learning within a pandemic. With vaccine distribution underway, many within the field are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and the eventual return to classrooms hopefully later this year. We speak with two education experts about the changes happening in the field as technology plays a bigger role.
20-51 Segment 2: What Are You Grateful For?
Thank goodness 2020 is just about over. While this year has been full of many challenges, it’s also made more Americans realize what truly matters and the importance of being thankful for even the littlest of things. As we all look ahead to next year and the habits we hope to cultivate, we discuss the benefits of practicing gratitude through writing.
20-48 Segment 1: The Early American Diet
Throughout history - war, famine, economic instability has affected what we choose to buy at the grocery store. Even today, the pandemic has shifted our grocery shopping and eating habits. This week, we rewind back to the Great Depression, which forced millions of Americans to find new recipes and get creative with the limited number of ingredients they could afford.
20-46 Segment 2: The State of Science
Before the pandemic, roughly 4 in 10 people across the world believed that if science didn’t exist their lives would be no different, according to a global survey conducted by 3M Corporation. We dig into this staggering statistic and how COVID-19 has altered people’s perception of the field.
20-44 Segment 2: Good Morning Zoom
You may be familiar with the classic children’s book, Goodnight Moon, but what about Good Morning Zoom? One mom living in New York City wanted to help her children better understand the pandemic, so wrote a parody based off of one of their favorite bedtime stories. The result? A funny, yet realistic look at parenting and getting through this period.
Culture Crash 20-44: Watching Film Festivals From Home
We discuss the upsides of film festivals going digital this year as well as some of our favorite hidden gems in the lineup.
20-43 Segment 2: Examining The Death-Care Industry
Planning for death is an important part of life. Getting your affairs in order and communicating your final wishes to your loved ones are two vital steps in this process. We speak with John Keith, the owner of Keith Monument, to better understand the field and some of the ways that COVID-19 has changed the way we celebrate life.
Culture Crash 20-42: Halloween 2020
This year’s spooky festivities may look a little different on October 31st – and that’s okay. We share some of our favorite frightening films for the holiday.
Culture Crash 20-41: A Solid Oscar Contender
We discuss director Chloe Zhao’s upcoming film, Nomadland that’s already generating a lot of buzz ahead of its December release.
20-39 Segment 1: Inside The Grocery Industry
Americans spent 700 billion dollars on groceries in 2018. Across the U.S., there are more than 38,000 supermarkets, each stocking thousands and thousands of distinct products. But what is the human cost of this mass consumerism? Well, the burden largely falls on low-paid workers at each level of food production and distribution - and the pandemic has only exacerbated many of these problems.
20-36 Segment 1: A Violent Wildfire Season In The West
It’s only September and this year’s wildfires in California are already worse than last year with still months left in peak fire season. We explore the growing challenges facing Californians and what the future holds for The Golden State.
20-31 Segment 2: A Different Career: The Life Of A Professional Cuddler
Thousands of Americans are certified cuddlers. You might be asking - what does it mean to be a ‘certified cuddler’? Christina Hepburn joins Viewpoints this week to talk about this relatively new niche and how she’s working to dissolve the stigmas associated with the industry.
20-24 Segment 1: The Murder Of George Floyd: A Deepening Public Health Crisis
George Floyd was 46 years old when he was murdered on the street by ex-Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. The father of five moved to the Midwest city in 2014 where he worked driving a truck and providing security at a local restaurant. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Floyd lost his security job. On May 25, Floyd was suspected of using a counterfeit $20 bill at a local store and officers were called to the scene. The question remains: how can a simple police call lead to the killing of an unarmed and unresisting man? For weeks, protests and outrage have spread across the U.S. and internationally as the killing of Floyd brings racial inequality and police brutality into focus once again. Even in the midst of a pandemic, people are showing up to say they’re fed up with the lack of equal justice, rights and opportunities for all.
20-24 Segment 2: Navigating Peak Wedding Season During A Pandemic
In April, May and June of this year, 550,000 weddings across the U.S. were set to take place. As the threat of COVID-19 swept much of the U.S., many of these pre-planned weddings had to be rescheduled. Viewpoints speaks with Erika Hernandez-Fullerton, a recent bride herself and owner of a wedding planning company, to find out how couples in this predicament are making the best of this unusual situation.
20-23 Segment 1: One Country, Two Systems: The Deepening Political Crisis In Hong Kong
Tensions between the people of Hong Kong and the Chinese communist government are quickly escalating in recent months. With the proposal of a new national security law in late May further tightening the grip on the semi-autonomous territory of Hong Kong, the city is a tipping point as protesters risk their lives to fight for political democracy and civil liberties.
20-19 Segment 1: An Essential Industry: Construction In The U.S.
In most states, construction is deemed an essential service during the COVID-19 pandemic. With roadways fairly clear and schools temporarily closed, crews are getting to work while still adhering to social distancing rules. In effect, construction spending was up 4.7 percent in March 2020 compared to March 2019. Viewpoints speaks with two people working in the industry to get an inside view on growth and job opportunities as well as current challenges facing the sector.
Culture Crash: The Fate Of The Oscars
How will the upcoming award’s season be affected by COVID-19? We discuss the state of the film industry and how the Academy is changing its rules during this unprecedented time.
20-17 Segment 1: The Slow-Looming, Invisible Crisis of Climate Change
With billions across the world staying home right now due to coronavirus, air pollution in many major cities has cleared making way for blue skies and new views of nature. This week, Viewpoints speaks with journalist and author Thomas Kostigen about the role of geoengineering in tackling another approaching global crisis: climate change.
20-17 Segment 2: The Dire State Of Affordable Housing In America
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the housing crisis as many millions of Americans can no longer afford to pay rent or their monthly mortgage. Viewpoints speaks with two housing experts about why so many people struggle to find affordable housing in the U.S. and one possible solution to the problem.
