Much of the focus has been on the shift of K-12 and their sudden transition to virtual learning, but college students who are used to a traditional class setting are finding it difficult to keep up with tasks and have a true college experience.
College students across America have had to alter heir expectations of a true collegiate experience. Dorm life, sports, fraternities and sororities are only a few of the things that many students look forward to outside of obtaining a degree. At the start of the stay-at-home order, many of us were already acclimated to educational search engines like Blackboard and Type pad.
Being a media & communications student has shown the importance in evolving with technology, and while most have transitioned well, some struggled with technological engagement. Having to swiftly change to virtual learning across all educational platforms has brought various challenges, but college students like myself are finding it difficult to keep up with the workload and change of pace. Personally, I have found this semester to be more challenging than the last, and it seems that the lack of in person interaction has caused some professors to overcompensate with assignments. Though the pandemic isn’t an excuse for the amount of material, trying to balance a new normal adds strain to our capacity to learn.
The benefit of online classes is the convenience aspect , and unless your courses require hands-on experience, the option to learn wherever you want to has been the biggest plus for me. Being able to change my location and attend class from anywhere has made my life a little bit easier. Understanding that every professor and student alike are adjusting to our normal allows room for improvement.
For freshmen, the transition to virtual learning seems to be more difficult. The adjustment from high school to college is challenging in itself, but having to manage time with work, school and social relationships seems to be taking a toll. Brittany, a freshman at SUNY Oneonta, is finding it hard to keep up. “The school offers tutoring and other resources, but the enormous amount of change over the last six months is making it hard for me to be completely present,” she explained. According to Inside Highered learning platform, “ College students are much more worried about how they would perform and what they would learn than about any technical or operational difficulties with the transition to a virtual format.”
With most still observing social distancing outside of our daily work environment responsibilities, the price of tuition and loss of employment is also making it difficult for students to keep up with virtual learning. Money woes and coursework have caused many students and faculty to focus more on their mental health, while trying to find a healthy balance between academics and personal challenges. Like Old Westbury, many campuses offer tutoring services as well as counseling and psychological wellness services. Taking advantage of all resources allotted can make virtual learning much easier.
