Remote vs in person: which is best for you?

By: Grace Price

With the rise in coronavirus cases, many districts were forced to adapt to a new learning model which split students between taking classes either at home or in person. Each method has proven to have both clear benefits as well as drawbacks, resulting in the best fit for each student depending on social need, preferred method of teaching and level of risk if they contracted the virus.

In person learning has a clear advantage in allowing for better socialization. Students are able to visit with their peers face to face rather than through a screen. However, many students still find seeing their friends a challenge as in person students have been split into morning and afternoon sessions. Compared to the isolation of learning from home though, it offers a solution to loneliness.

For remote learning, the closest example students have to communicating without a teacher present is in breakout rooms. While in the main session, students never have an opportunity to speak with their friends as the entire class hears everything and only one person can speak at a time. Breakouts rooms would be a solution, however, many students have found that the rooms are awkward and silent and they generally do not know the students they are paired with well enough to begin a conversation.

Overall, communication for remote students is strained and inconsistent compared to in person. Whereas a student in the classroom can approach a teacher with a question, remote students rely solely on emails and the hope that a teacher will notice the Zoom chat before class is over.

Additionally, some classes have a hybrid model with teachers having students both in the classroom and on Zoom. Remote students often get overlooked or feel ignored as a teacher is more likely to notice a hand raised in front of them than one in a little blurry box on their computer. So for students with a desire for a healthy social setting, in person is a better choice.

However, remote learning has its benefits as well. For example, students in remote learning get to stay in the comfort of their homes and don’t have to worry about getting up early to commute to school. Also, when classes finish a lesson early, remote students can play games or go outside whereas in person students have to sit in a classroom.

This allows for a greater sense of freedom. Remote students can use their own bathroom and eat food from their own kitchen, whereas at school, in-person learners are kept under strict guidelines and have little to no flexibility with their movement.

Probably the greatest appeal to remote learning is the reduced risk of contracting the coronavirus. According to the CDC, students at in-person learning still have a medium risk when every person in the building follows the new guidelines perfectly, ie wearing masks all day, frequently cleaning desks and materials, and maintaining six foot distances in classes. Even with masks, transmission is still possible.

A definite drawback to remote learning is having to stare at a computer all day, which can lead to eye strain and headaches. In person students have a more connected learning environment as well since they are in the room with their teacher. This provides more engaging and personalized teaching, versus a feeling of disconnect when a teacher is speaking to a screen full of black boxes.

Having access to Zoom as a classroom setting can be a blessing as well as a hindrance though. On a positive side, it allows teachers to easily record the lesson as they teach it on screen. However, it can also allow for a lot of technology trouble, especially for students and teachers unfamiliar with the software. There are also frequent issues with webcams and microphones, which is the main element of remote classrooms. Being on Zoom also gives remote students access to the internet while in class. This can be an aid in finding information for certain classes, but also a huge distraction and possible method for cheating.

When comparing in person and remote learning, a topic frequently brought up is the effect on mental health. With a challenging year and pandemic, school adds another source of stress. Many adults fear that students’ mental health will deteriorate when in remote learning as it isolates students from daily interactions with their peers.

This concern is valid for both learning groups though. While remote students may feel isolated, in person students also have the challenge of adapting to a new environment and learning to let go of the school they were previously adjusted to. No more dances, constant masks and regulations being enforced, and almost no semblance of freedom. That can be just as damaging.

Both options provide unique challenges, so students will have to decide which method is better for their learning style.