Community outlooks on distance learning benefits

Embracing distance learning

BY VIVIAN KREVOR

Staff Reporter

Everyone is doing differently with distance learning. While some parts of an online platform may be difficult for some students, for others the same applies to in-person school. There are advantages to in-person and online school, although these benefits don’t necessarily apply to all students. Some students struggle more with working in an in-person school or online environment. This could be due to managing other activities or responsibilities, the environment in which students can better focus, and whether they work better in a group or independently. The variety of ways students respond to different schooling requires different forms of teaching methods. Even after COVID-19 is over, perhaps a hybrid between online and in person school should be considered as an option to students.

“I like the schedule in distance learning,” describes Sequoia student Emi Fletcher.

Fletcher describes that her ideal learning environment could be a hybrid between distance and in-person school. This is because she finds many aspects of both environments important. In Fletcher’s experiences, distance learning offers more accessible resources and efficient scheduling that makes it easy to review work in between classes. In in-person school, there is work time in a productive environment and there are chances to have better connections with students.

Jack West, a Sequoia teacher, says “the state of Florida, for more than a decade, has required high school students to take at least one class online.”

West describes that knowing how to use a learning system such as Canvas, and managing one’s time are very important skills that students can learn from an online learning platform.

West continues, referencing a theoretical scenario after quarantine.

“I think there’s an opportunity here...if students raise their voices and say ‘hey, COVID sucked in general, but one thing that could be nice would be for us to be able to choose a class or two here and there that we take in the online space at our own pace.’”

While West is unsure if administrators have even mentioned this idea, he says he would be open to the idea of students having the option to have a hybrid of in person and online school. West mentions connections between people formed during in-person school is essential, and lack thereof has changed how he’s been configuring group work in his classes. He also mentions that he likes the flexibility of resources to students; classes can be re-watched and almost all resources exist on a digital platform accessible to students’ through clicking the correct buttons.

“I like being able to work in a familiar environment,” Freshman Katie Brodersen said.

Katie attends Futures Academy, a private high school that teaches students one-onone, teacher to student. Katie prefers distance learning over in person school, and thinks that she is improving with Future’s environment, which entirely excludes group projects and group learning. While she would be more comfortable knowing her peers, she describes that in her experiences before quarantine, working with students was stressful and could be distracting. Katie represents perspectives on independent and online learning that is relatable to lots of students.

“When you work by yourself you have more of a sense of what to do,” describes Sequoia student Chelsy Nava.

Nava describes that her ideal learning environment would either be in person school, or a hybrid of online and physical school. She finds it much harder to focus on work at home, as there are many distractions and it is an environment where she has more freedom to do what she wants. She describes independent work is easier for her, as it can be difficult to decide what to do with multiple people working on an assignment. Nava also wants to be able to make better connections with her peers. “How many people can learn a language by themselves? Right. So the philosophy around learning languages is you need to actually have some feedback,” French teacher Karina Chin said.

Chin recognizes the balance of independent and group learning and describes that this is a commonly discussed and considered subject among teachers. How the balance is executed ultimately depends on the teacher’s teaching style and subject. Although, Chin has been having some difficulty with tracking the participation and needed assistance level of her students over zoom calls. She has been incorporating strategies including timing student’s response times, encouraging cameras on, and collecting weekly data from surveys. She describes that she pushes her students to make an online community where everyone feels welcome.

In conclusion, there are advantages and disadvantages to online and in person school. Every student is different, and will respond to working environments in personal ways.

French teacher Madame Karina Chin conducts a Zoom class. Photo courtesy of Karina Chin