Covid and the Classroom

COVID

AND THE CLASSROOM

By: Frank Piegari Staff Writer

College is a time of great transition. For most, it is the first time that we are ever really on our own and away from our parents. We are in charge of our own laundry. We have to wake ourselves up in the morning. Essentially, it means that we are on the verge of adulthood.

College is an essential experience that many might feel they have missed out on due to the COVID-19 pandemic. How has this affected the relationship between students and their schools?

An article published by www. thirdway.org presents the fact that 72% of students agreed that, "The way my institution handled the pandemic this past semester made me trust its leadership more.” This can be viewed as great news to universities and colleges. With the rise of e-learning, it has never been easier to stay connected to a classroom and your professors, no matter the circumstance.

However, this new way of learning comes with its downsides. It affects college students in big ways considering how the culture of college has massively transitioned from school years prior.

Author and professor Stephanie Riegg Cellini explains her stance regarding e-learning by stating that studies conducted by Third Way found, “Online education lowered a student’s final grade by about 0.2 standard deviations.” “Their work also confirms the results of previous papers, finding that the negative effect of online learning was driven by students with lower academic ability,” Cellini explained. This data effectively shows that despite e-learning being convenient and the best option for the times we find ourselves in, it is not the same as the full-fledged college experience.

But, there is a light in all of this. The Governor of Illinois, J.B. Pritzker, announced that, as of February 28, 2022, the mask mandate that has been on and off for the past few years has finally been lifted. This news is major for students, as it finally marks a return for normalcy within the classroom and is a bold step in showing that schools may be what they once were again.

University of St. Francis sophomore, Carter St. Clair, (VP of Philosophy Club and President of Scientific Research Club) stated, “It’s definitely been very different. You never really know what will happen next and the unknown is scary. I’m just thankful to be here and healthy.”

Students still want to learn. They want to place themselves in an environment where they can succeed and master skills that they will use for the rest of their lives. They want the authentic college experience. Given how quickly times are changing, that possibility keeps feeling more and more likely.