Virtual learning is hard

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Shikha Patel

Online learning is harder for many reasons; from missing crucial parts of your learning, to not being able to access your education because of the internet, online learning has been a rough adjustment.

Natalie Gerold, J1 Reporter

Many students have struggled to make the jump from physically being at school to learning virtually. The change in the style of learning now provided has made it harder for many to learn.

 The physical distance between students and teachers due to the online learning environment has made it difficult for students to be able to connect with their teachers. When working online it is much harder to show your teachers exactly what you are struggling to learn. This is just one example of how online learning is hard.

A major thing that has changed is the way students are being taught. Many teachers have resorted to giving their students videos to watch instead of instructing them themselves. For many students, this style of teaching has not been effective.

 Many students have struggled to grasp certain concepts. According to KVUE-TV, about 11,700 Austin ISD students are failing at least one class this year. This is a 70% increase from last year. 

When students are physically present in front of a teacher, the teacher has the opportunity to make sure each student is getting the specific help that they need. Students are able to ask questions as they arise and teachers can give immediate answers.

Asking questions is the best way to learn, although it is very difficult to do online. A big issue, especially with some students returning to school, is the availability of the teacher. It is harder for teachers to balance between students online and in school.

Another recurring issue of online schooling is having to rely on the internet. On September 11, many students across AISD experienced a wifi outage that prevented them from being able to access their classes or assignments. This outage kept many from an entire day of educational instruction. 

Online school has brought an increase in assignments from teachers. At school, we are given assignments and have entire class periods that are solely focused on getting our work done with the assistance and input from the teacher. At home, we are expected to be self-directed. 

Being at home there is an increased amount of distractions and opportunities to lose focus on the work given. The distractions arise because of the amount of time we spend on asynchronous learning. At school, 100% of the day is synchronous learning.

Although some might say online schooling is easier because you are able to work at your own pace and you choose when to complete assignments. I believe that these things ultimately result in procrastination and turning assignments in late.

To prevent things like that the best solution is to complete your assignments immediately. It is much harder to do all of your forgotten assignments at once. It is also important to stay organized by having an agenda or a calendar where you can write your assignments and their due dates.

Online learning is harder for many reasons; from missing crucial parts of your learning to not being able to access your education because of the internet, online learning has been a rough adjustment.