By Anthony Alvarez

COVID-19 brought a lot of changes to the lives of PHS students. Schooling has definitely taken a major hit from the coronavirus. Online school is new and different and an adjustment for all involved, and it is affecting students in many ways as they try to do class through the monitor. As all new systems this one has its pros and cons, just like everything new.

First of all, the need to complete last year during the lockdown, as an online program, is well documented. However, speaking to students the use of the online school this year, while better than last year, still has some room for improvement.

As a student I can say that it has not been a good experience overall, but necessary for all of us. While some students enjoy the ability to go to school without getting dressed or even getting out of bed in the morning, most actually miss their school and their friends.

For some students this was a way better option than school for them. On the other hand, most students want to go back to school. One friend said, “I can’t believe I am saying this, but I miss that old and dusty school.”
While going to school online has had some advantages, like not having to wear our uniforms, or get out there in the cold every morning, there are also disadvantages.

For example, now students are spending a lot more time on electronics. There seems to be many more hours of school work going online. Instead of speaking to friends at school we are stuck in front of a screen. There are so many school hours and then the hours of trying to do homework after school. This has all increased the amount of time students are spending on their electronic devices everyday. Students then tend to stack their device time on their phones, tablets, and what not.

Although according to the OSF HealthCare, “5-17 years old – No more than two hours per day (homework not included)” should be spent on devices.
With this in mind already mandatory a total of 5.1 hours a day (without reconnect time). This comes out to an unhealthy amount of time being spent on the computer. Even so the teachers are also spending an absurd amount of time on electronic devices (7.1 hours). Then combined with the screen time outside of school, this situation is not ideal for teachers as well as students.

Another problem is how it is so easy to either attend or not attend classes. It is harder for students to get into a lesson when there is not a teacher standing there watching you. All a student has to do is just close their Chromebook to leave school. This fact makes students fell like school is more optional, and that should not be.

According to University of Illinois, the online situation “places a greater responsibility on the student. In order to successfully participate in an online program, students must be well organized, self-motivated, and possess a high degree of time management skills in order to keep up with the pace” than “other students who are dependent learners and have difficulty assuming responsibilities required by the online paradigm.”

Then other times people around me just have bad days then they miss some work then they get more bummed out because then the work starts stacking. There are also some who are just completely checking out and not going to class. Teachers, counselors and administrators are urging students to try their best to continue to learn, no matter the format. The first part of succeeding in class is just to show up.

On the positive side of things, the online class can be done form anywhere where you can get a wi-fi signal. “The online format allows physically challenged students (and teachers) more freedom to participate in class. Participants access the Virtual Classroom through their computers instead of having to ‘go to class’ physically.” Students who are typically shy in classes can excel now that they can attend class from a distance from the comfort of their own home. There are the students that know what needs to be done and they do it. Additionally, they can do the work anytime on the work.

In addition to that, “the learner may reflect on comments from others before responding or moving on to the next item. This structure allows students time to articulate responses with much more depth and forethought than in a traditional face-to-face discussion situation.”

Online courses have a pros and cons. Some students adapt and do amazing work because they can work in the comfort of their own home and are not bothered by the lack of interaction with classmates and teachers. However, some people do terribly in this environment. Some students just cannot seem to stay on task and get their work done. There is a general lack of interest from students in online classes.

Many teachers are also getting tired of feeling like they are talking to nothing in class. Its just not a great system, but its what we are forced to deal with now because of the pandemic. That being said we should all do our best to make the best of a bad situation.

Sources for this article:
https://www.uis.edu/ion/resources/tutorials/online-education-overview/strengths-and-weaknesses/#weaknesses

https://newsroom.osfhealthcare.org/screen-time-for-kids-how-much-is-too-much/