All throughout 2020 there were many hurdles for students to face. One of the major hurdles our college community is dealing with is the transition from in-person classes to online classes. Although most of us have gotten used to this, this rigorous transition has its ups and downs.
Let’s start with some of the ups: the helpful things that the Camosun staff have been doing to make this online experience as close to a version of regular college life as possible. Virtual guest speakers, online meetings with peers, and online learning centres that are dedicated to helping students finish projects—all of these efforts have helped this virtual system achieve the goal of education. Unfortunately, through no fault of the staff, this system is far from perfect.
One big negative with the online Camosun experience is the D2L system. The entire D2L system depends on students having the correct compatible computer system to support its usage. So, if you have an older computer, you’re not going to have a good time with it.
Another issue with taking classes online is that it robs you of one of the most important elements of the college experience: the social aspect. This past year in general has been very hard on our basic human urge to connect with other human beings. This contact before, during, and after classes is especially important to the college experience. If a group of students are working on a project together it’s imperative that everyone is on the same page so that any bugs that may be considered a threat to your project—and your grades—can be addressed. It’s impossible to be on the same page with colleagues if there is no social communication.
Personally, the biggest issue for me is focus related. The “no phones in class” rule that we have all grown accustomed to works so well because it limits distractions that prevent us—or myself, anyway—from being able to focus on the work at hand as well as to meet deadlines. I mean, why do work when I could be watching the new Marvel movie on my phone? At home, fighting off these urges becomes even more of a daunting task because not only do you have to contend with your phone, your TV, your computer, and maybe a PlayStation or Xbox, but also a bed!
The good news is that there are ways to handle this problem. The best one I find for myself is to set timed breaks. These breaks are not only beneficial for you detraction-wise but can also help reduce your time staring at screen glare, fight bad posture, and give you free time to do more of what you want to do.
Overall, while I do believe it’s important to keep taking classes during these challenging times, these issues do make online learning far from perfect.
Well said, this is an excellent piece.