Rachel Campbell
Multimedia Editor
Online classes were not routinely offered a few years ago, but now it is becoming much more common. Before only some classes were offered online, but since the Coronavirus, online classes are the new normal and it isn’t right. Personally, I was affected like any other student, having to adjust from being IN class every, to waking up and turning ON class.
In 2020 when all classes went online, it was tough. Because we changed from in class to online within a week, with neither students or instructors having any choice or time to prepare. The workload became so much harder to understand as well as stressful. Not only did I have to pack up my apartment and move back home, I was also laid off from my job. On the bright side, this would allow more time for homework, right? It did not: my classes took up my entire day and I was cooped up in my mom’s house without an outlet for socialization due to COVID, having online classes was inevitable, but it was also very stressful.
According to The Crimson white, cw.ua.edu, in person learning is way more beneficial to students because online classes do need more self-discipline and since most do their work at home, they aren’t as focused. The home is a place to unwind and be lazy since they are in their own comfort space.
The problem is when classes are only offered online, especially required classes. I decided to take two classes this past summer. I had the time, since I was not working; I decided to take them, thinking it would be chill and I would get these classes out of the way for the actual school year regardless of whether we went back to in person school or not. Now I am glad I did those classes, but I wouldn’t do it again. The two classes I took, took up my time all day everyday including weekends. I realized I was grateful for my employment layoff. If I were working, I would have failed my classes.
My mental health declined drastically after the first week. My summer semester started less than a week after my 2020 spring semester had ended and I had no downtime to do anything besides homework. Because of Covid even if time allowed, we couldn’t travel, get together with friends or any of the usual social stuff, I became so stressed, that towards the end of the summer semester I had a panic attack about all the assignments.
It was difficult to fall asleep, but when I could, I slept in until past noon everyday simply because I knew if I got up, I would be stuck on my computer all day, not knowing what I was learning about. Online, the teachers dont interact with their students besides sending weekly emails of the next assignments due. They give you an online textbook thinking that make you more knowledgeable while you take a test on some random schooling website knowing if you just pulled google up, you could at least pass the class and be done.
That isn’t a mindset a person should have, especially a student, while taking a class. We should be engaged and excited about learning, even if it isn’t our favorite class. Online classes can cause students can be way more easily distracted than in person. Besides, in person classes the students can get so much more out of the class, knowledge that the teacher is actively giving and is knowledgeable about themselves, not just giving a textbook and testing over that.
Yes, you could skip in person but if you do you can at least contact a fellow student and catch up what you missed to be readily prepared from the next class. Online, you can skip one day and when you log on next it turns out you missed a test and 3 assignments even though everything is listed, but it isn’t organized to show the order.
Therefore, in person classes should be taken and online classes, unless absolutely needed like when covid happened however, they should not be the go-to: have online classes as an option, but also offer in person and then compare everything of the grades, activeness, and especially the student mental health about that particular class. There will be a difference.
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