Zooming to Class Thursday, October 1, 2020
One professor worries about effects of online class By Dru Norton With more students opting to join class via Zoom instead of in-person, an Oklahoma State professor is concerned with the disadvantages of attending class through a computer screen. Many students have the option of using Zoom, a platform similar to Skype, that has been used across the country in meetings, classes and events, since the beginning of the pandemic. As of Sept. 27, 238 active cases of COVID-19 were reported at OSU, according to University Health Services. Twentyfive of those cases include individuals in universitysponsored quarantine locations, while the other individuals are quarantining off-campus. However, this does not explain the subtle decline in in-person class attendance, an OSU biology professor, who preferred to remain anonymous, said. “Some students are not attending in-person class due to quarantine; however, the statistics are not showing that many students are contracting COVID-19, at least not enough to have that large of a decline in attendance,” the professor said. “Some students are choosing to attend via zoom because it’s easier. They may not have to get out of bed.” The professor said the effects of attending class online might be different for each student. “For some students, attending class online can create a better learning atmosphere for them. They are in a comfortable place
Unsplash Some professors are having to adapt to the changing world of COVID-19.
and it may reduce testanxiety or other anxieties,” the professor said. “But for others, online learning may just be what’s easiest and could ultimately feel isolating.” Political science senior Eden Patton said attending classes
in person is part of her daily schedule. “For me, I need to be around people and stay engaged in my classes, so I always try to attend my classes inperson,” Patton said. “I want to be able to walk on campus and attend class and try to make ev-
COVID-19 Update By Ryan Boyce On Wednesday, Oklahoma’s State Department of Health’s COVID-19 dashboard reported 324 active cases in Payne County with 260 cases coming from Stillwater. No additional deaths were reported. At the state level, the dashboard reported another decrease in active cases to a new active total of 13,068 with 13 new deaths from yesterday. These new numbers bring the total case count in Okla-
homa over the course of the pandemic to 87,199. While the active case counts at the state and local levels continue to decline, the active case count across the country has consistently risen over the last month to a current active total of 4,170,939 cases. The Oklahoma Department of Health recommends that masks be worn in public places especially indoor spaces like schools and restaurants.
erything feel as normal as possible.” Most OSU classes have given students the opportunity to attend classes in person or via zoom. OSU also made it clear that attendance in either form should not affect a students grade.
Within a week, Patton said she saw a steady decline in the number of students attending in person. “In one of my classes last week, only six students out of 60 attended in-person,” Patton said. “I can tell it brings the morale down of the professors at times, because they are used to teaching hundreds of students and getting that kind of feedback. It’s a totally different scenario now.” For students like psychology senior Michaela Lewis, attending class on zoom is more convenient for her busy schedule. “Because I am able to attend classes on zoom, I can work two jobs,” Lewis said. “One of those jobs is important to my major, and I don’t think I would have had the time to do that without having the schedule flexibility I do now.” Lewis said she has connected more with other students in her classes than in previous semesters. “I feel like I’ve bonded with more students in my classes because we all know that it’s a weird time for everyone, so we’re going to have to help each other more so than ever,” Lewis said. “I know professors and the university are doing everything they can to keep students safe, and we all just have to adapt to this new way of life for now.”