By Kelly Lewis
I think we can all agree that 2020 hasn’t been the best year. Coronavirus impacted almost every aspect of our lives - and part of the new normal is online classes. When Stonehill students were sent back home in March and quarantine began, shifting classes online was not that bad. It was something new, and it was fun. However, at this point, almost six months since Coronavirus was declared a pandemic, I am done with zoom classes.
I am so thankful that Stonehill provided students with multiple options for learning this semester. Some students are remote, completing all their classes online from home. While other students, like me, live on campus and partake in the hybrid model. I have two classes in person and three classes online. I honestly don’t know how the remote students handle it. I can’t stand my online courses and would much rather have all my classes in person.
The most significant problem with learning online is the loss of connection between students and professors. I look forward to walking into my class and greeting my friends next to me and talking about our weekends during the couple minutes before class starts. It’s easier to discuss in class because you can see everyone and their facial expressions, on zoom, it’s hard to discuss because you might cut someone off.
Another problem with online classes is the amount of screen time and being exposed to blue light. My eyes are frequently on a screen, making my eyes and head hurt. I go from a zoom meeting, typing a paper, to trying to take a break but ending up on my phone, yet another screen.
On top of all this, I find it difficult to pay attention when a professor lectures on zoom versus in the classroom. There are so many more distractions in my room, and even on my computer. I am tempted to shop online and work on other class assignments. It’s so difficult to not give in to these distractions versus in class where there are less distractions and I avoid using my phone, knowing that the professor will most likely notice.
The other day I came across a relevant quote on Facebook. It read, “Online school is having so many assignments, tests, and projects that it is no longer a matter of learning the material…it’s a matter of meeting deadlines. We are not given enough time to fully understand the materials, we
quickly learn enough to get by and move on.” I couldn't agree more, and I find it so sad that college has become a matter of deadlines and achieving a task rather than receiving an education and gaining knowledge to become a contributing member of society.
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