In a world where screen-time has become the center of students’ social lives, it is quickly starting to weave its way into becoming the center of students’ academic lives, too. With the sudden spike in the popularity of online learning, more students are being forced to choose whether they want to stay loyal to the longstanding benefits of the in-person school system or take advantage of the internet for their education.
A huge benefit of online learning for students is the ease and convenience that the on-demand course poses for them. There are many different types of online classes, some of which teach through recorded lectures or interactive online activities. These courses are made up of assignments that students are meant to complete based on information in the corresponding lesson or lecture.
Sophomore Shane McNulty said that having the opportunity to learn the material and complete his assignments whenever and wherever is a reason that online learning is helpful.
“You can basically do it any time you have any piece of technology,” McNulty said. “You can just log in, do a little bit of work, and then you’re done.”
Junior Jonathan Phmah said that online learning gives him space to complete assignments on his own accord, lessening his anxiety.
“Just with the fact that it’s online, there’s a lot less physical pressure,” Phmah said.
Online classes provide an academic support system for students that still allows for students to complete assignments at their own pace. Although many online learning programs provide students with a pacing guide to help them stay on track, McNulty said that students have the flexibility to set their own pace based on what works best for them.
“Because you don’t really have to show up to a class, you can do it at your own pace,” McNulty said. “You’re not really getting checked on by the teacher.”
Eva Tyler, a ninth grader in the Piedmont community who recently switched from in-person school to full-time online school, said that having a schoolwork schedule that isn’t set in stone allows her to prioritize her personal life and extracurricular activities.
“I can make my own schedule. I can do my schoolwork whenever I want to,” Tyler said. “I really like being able to do my Tuesday school work on Monday if I have something to do on Tuesday.”
McNulty said that despite the flexibility of on-demand assignments, there is more tolerance for procrastination.
“You can procrastinate more than you can in person,” McNulty said. “In person, you’re being constantly checked.”
Teacher involvement is something that is constant in in-person school. McNulty said that it is challenging to supplement necessary student-teacher interactions in an online class due to the lack of physical presence of both the teacher and the student, leading to a deficiency of personal connection between the two.
“It’s not really personified. [The teacher] is just kind of a name in an online class,” McNulty said. “In an in-person class, when I don’t do the work, I feel guilty because I can see the teacher working.”
Phmah said that the disconnect between teacher and student makes it uncomfortable to go to teachers for help understanding content, forcing students to take it upon themselves to find answers.
“You can’t really ask questions. There’s none of that. It’s up to you to figure it out on your own,” Phmah said. “With in-person classes, you can ask clarifying questions, and you don’t need to do as much work to figure out something if you don’t understand it.”
McNulty said that having the bonds that accompany in-person school helps make the learning process more effective.
“The level of connection that comes with in-person class motivates you,” McNulty said.
Extending beyond the presence of teacher-student connections, a large aspect of in-person school is the bonds that students are able to develop with each other through seeing each other every day. Phmah said that having these strong connections with peers not only makes school more enjoyable, but it also helps motivate students to work harder.
“In [in-person] class, you have your friends and you can study together, which is pretty great for bonding,” Phmah said.
McNulty said that having social interactions built into students’ academics is something that students look forward to, rather than the strictly academic environment online school relies on.
“In an in-person class, when you’re in a classroom and you’re with people you enjoy being around, the class is going to be much more fun.” McNulty said. “[In an online class] it’s just all busy work, and nobody really likes busy work.”
However, Phmah said that the integrity that online classes require is an important quality for students to have and it shows levels of student commitment.
“It shows that you care.” Phmah said. “For me, [taking online classes] has mostly been to get ahead, and that shows that I want to learn.”
