Hartnell College to hold physical activity classes online

SALINAS, Calif. (KION) Academic courses will not be the only classes held online at Hartnell College this fall.

The school said that when the COVID-19 pandemic led the school to close for in-person instruction, students in physical activity courses found that they could continue online as well.

During the 16-week fall semester beginning on Aug. 24, the school said classes such as yoga, self-defense, Zumba and introduction to weight training can be taken for credit at home. The courses give 1.5 units of credit, and they can be taken multiple times by paying an audit fee.

“My idea is to teach some techniques live, share some videos of similar style of content with the student and then have them practice the technique and last share with me some technique mastery,” said Steve Terry, who teaches self-defense/martial arts and is an assistant men’s basketball coach. “They will use either Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok, or any app where the student can send me a video that’s less than a minute long.”

In addition to apps and social media, at least one instructor said she plans to use an online teaching system called Canvas.

A Hartnell student majoring in kinesiology said there are many personal training videos on YouTube and that he has taken an online weight training course before.

“We’ve just transitioned from actually lifting weights to more pushups, air squats – doing calisthenics, but without the weights. It’s a common misunderstanding that weight training has to deal with weights, because the body has its own weight to it.”

Golf classes will be held in a different format. The school is offering a hybrid version of beginners' golf, which allows students to learn online and practice at a golf course.

Fall and spring courses cost $79, and students who would like to repeat a course without credit will have to pay $32.50.

To register, visit Hartnell College's website here.