Online Learning During Covid-19

ONLINE LEARNING DURING

COVID-19

Kylie Chan, Year 12, Anderson

Amidst Covid-19, we often find ourselves confined to the small spaces we have at home. Everything has been digitalised, from online lessons to fundraising events. Although the idea of staying in bed all day on our laptops and phones is tempting, this could prove detrimental not only to our mental health but also to our physical health. Laptop screens emit blue light, which can significantly affect the quality of sleep, especially when used before bedtime, often leading to sleep deprivation. This could, in turn, have other consequences such as a shorter attention span and reduced focus, as well as negatively impacting healthy growth in children and adolescents.

Experts suggest that excessive screen time could also result in difficulty reading emotions and increased suicidal behaviour. Furthermore, a study by the United States National Institute of Health revealed that children who spent more than two hours a day on electronic devices generally scored lower on thinking and language tests.

According to the American Academy of Paediatrics, no more than two hours of screen time daily is recommended for teenagers and adults, while absolutely no screen time is recommended for kids under the age of two; however, the challenges brought about by the Covid-19 Pandemic have made this increasingly difficult. The use of online platforms such as Zoom has drastically increased, especially in school settings. This has had a detrimental effect on the majority of the population, most significantly on mental health. Online learning makes the communication of nonverbal body language (e.g. mannerisms, gestures) harder to interpret, something that could trigger around 7% of the population who have a social anxiety disorder.

It is also widely agreed that online lessons have been detrimental to our learning. Without the presence of others and the lack of a classroom setting, students often feel demotivated to work hard and focus on their studies. Although we have swiftly returned to face-to-face lessons, zoom lessons still remain a big part of our lives. Below are some helpful tips that may improve your online learning experience:

Firstly, use the chat feature on Zoom to ask questions. Asking questions in an online setting may be daunting for some students, especially if they may normally be reluctant to raise their hand during normal lessons. Using the chat function allows you to privately ask questions without letting other students know.

Secondly, email your teachers. If using the chat function may still be too daunting for you, don ’t be afraid to email your teacher for a private online call. Often you will receive valuable

feedback from your teacher as a private conversation would allow individualized instruction. However, make sure that you remain polite and respectful if your teacher refuses.

Choose your breakout room partners may also have a positive impact on your online learning experience. It is common knowledge that breakout rooms are often unproductive and awkward. Asking your teacher to let you choose your breakout room partners would make group work a much easier and more enjoyable experience by reducing any social phobias. Increased social interaction is especially important during these difficult times.

Furthermore, make use of the share-screen function. This is especially useful for courses or subjects that require a visual component, such as art. Sharing your screen would make communication and collaboration much easier. An example of this would be sharing a video clip you have created.

Many might also choose to form a Zoom study group. People have different studying methods: some prefer to study individually while others find collaborative studying more effective. If you find yourself working better as a group, it might be a good initiative to start a Zoom study group. You could also use zoom recreationally as a way to stay connected with your friends by playing online games together or just hanging out.

Finally, take advantage of the online setting! One major positive of online learning is that most, if not all, of your learning resources, are available on your Google Classroom. This would allow for easier revision and it would be wise to use this to your advantage. However, regulating screen time usage may prove challenging for many as much of our schoolwork has been digitalized and has remained this way even after we have returned to normal lessons. If you often find yourself staring at your laptop screen for hours on end and have difficulty in regulating a healthy screen-time schedule, below are some tips that may help:

The Pomodoro Technique This time management technique calls for 25 minutes of focused study sessions, separated by 5 minutes of break. For every four sessions of focused study sessions, a longer 20-30 minute break. Similarly, breaks should be as screen-free as possible. Taking regular breaks is also beneficial from your prefrontal cortex which involves high-level cognitive processing, showing how taking short but regular breaks is vital for healthy mental growth.

Take Active Breaks As said above, taking breaks is a necessity. The important factor is to make sure that your study breaks are active and off-screen. This could range from taking a quick walk around the house to making yourself a cup of coffee.

Incorporate Screen Free Studying Try to incorporate as many physical forms of study as possible. Some examples of this would be purchasing physical copies of textbooks, printing out study material or opting for a pen and paper approach to taking notes rather than typing. Similarly to creating Zoom study groups, you could match up screen-free study schedules with your friends and classmates through a voice call. This may be advantageous as your friends and classmates can keep you accountable and encourage you to stay screen-free.

Do Regular Exercise t is important to incorporate at least 30 minutes of daily exercise into your routine. Not only does exercise serve as a method of reducing screen time, but it is also extremely beneficial for your physical and mental health, and it helps you concentrate and focus better in class. This is because exercise releases chemicals like endorphins and serotonin, which can significantly improve your mood, along with helping your muscles to relax so you can work more effectively.

Separate your Work and Sleep Space Although working in the comfort of your bed is tempting, it is extremely detrimental to your quality of sleep as it triggers the brain to associate your sleeping and working space as one. Screens also emit blue light, which in turn blocks the release of melatonin, a hormone that controls your sleep-wake cycle. This means you would feel more alert when falling asleep and might find trouble doing so, hence decreasing your quality of sleep.

Incorporating and sustaining a healthy schedule during this strenuous time in our lives is extremely important albeit rather difficult. However, with the right mindset and positive attitude, it is possible to regain an enthusiastic attitude towards our learning as well as maintaining active and healthy lives.