By Juliana Oelkers
CASA Marketing and Communications Intern and student at Fairleigh Dickinson University
When I left school for spring break on March 7th, I never imagined that I would not be returning for the rest of the semester. Without so much as a goodbye, the school year as I knew it was over. All of our classes went online, something we all thought was impossible. Every kid across the nation has experienced this by now in the wake of COVID-19.
The switch to online school is unprecedented, daunting, and scary for everyone involved. Teachers and students alike must now learn new technologies, adjust to a new schedule, and change their whole learning process. At least that’s how it is for students who are lucky enough to have access to laptops and the internet. I am lucky enough to be able to go to class online and maintain somewhat of a normal routine.
However, there are still those students who don’t have internet access and instead do packets in lieu of online classes. Parents are stepping up to help, but it’s hard for students to learn without all the resources they normally have. It is especially hard for those students whose parent’s first language isn’t English, as is the case for many CASA children.
A quality education, proms, graduations, sports, and even meals provided by schools have all been taken away from students by COVID-19. But there are a few silver linings to online education. I have heard so many stories of teachers and professors doing the impossible for their students during this pandemic. Whether it be extending deadlines, canceling tests, or even driving around and delivering packets to each of their students, everyone is helping each other out in any way they can. Stories like this are a good reminder of how hard both teachers and students work, and that compassion can make even the worst of times a little better.
Remote learning has also made me realize just how much I took school for granted. I miss my friends, my professors, and being present in a classroom. The hardest part is not knowing when things can go back to normal again. What I do know is that whenever we can finally go back to school, it will be with excitement and newfound appreciation (at least at first). For now, since online classes are my new normal, I’ve come up with a few tips for more effective online learning:
For those who are meeting with their classes on video through platforms like Zoom, it’s important to leave your camera on during class. My professors don’t mind if I keep my camera off, but I’ve realized I’m more likely to pay attention and participate in class with it turned on because I know everyone is watching.
As much as possible, try to keep your school hours the same every week. Try not to skip class and even if your class isn’t meeting, keep the same hours for doing schoolwork. This will help you create a routine and a sense of normalcy during an otherwise crazy time.
Lastly, quarantine has shown me that communication is key. Try to check your email or school website as often as possible because news is constantly changing and new information about grades or tests could make a big difference.
We all can’t wait for the day when we can hang out with our friends, see our teachers, go to school dances, sporting events, and yes, even sit in class. But then again, there is that silver lining: online education has taught us all some lessons that we wouldn’t have learned in class. Every student going through this has already become more resilient, resourceful, understanding, and better communicators. We will carry these skills with us after COVID-19 and when we are faced with ‘Sunday Scaries’ or our next big test, we will remember that we have already made it through much harder times.