Online School Experience
by Taylor Compton
The last days of school are here, and summer break is slowly starting. Ever since the Coronavirus outbreak, the new normal has been online classes and messed up schedules, but everyone seems to be getting used to it.
A group of students was asked a few questions about their online school experience. When asking students how their online school experience went, most of them said it went really well. Some comments almost mentioned that it started off rough and was difficult, but as time went on, it got easier. Students also said that it was nice to get some experience because they are going to take online classes next year, and other comments mentioned that the teachers were very helpful even during the most difficult times. A comment was also mentioned that learning in person was a lot easier for them.
Freshman Ciara Garcia said her online school experience went well by saying, “My online experience with schooling was overall pretty good. All the teachers gave us plenty of opportunities to ask questions and [receive] help with anything we need. My classes were pretty easy, and I still feel like I learned a great deal from our assignments. It was nice how I was able to do homework at my own pace and also in my pajamas.”
Students were also asked if there was anything they wish they would’ve done sooner or in the beginning. A lot of students said they wish they would’ve started their homework a lot sooner instead of procrastinating. It was also mentioned that students wished they would’ve spaced out their homework so they could give themselves more time to do it. A student also said they wish they would’ve known how easy it was to contact teachers.
English teacher Melissa Legate comments on her online school experience by saying, ”Online learning was definitely a huge adjustment with many challenges, but it also forced me to really think about what was essential for my students to learn so we could spend our time and effort in the best way possible. It also helped me grow as an educator since I had to try out new methods of teaching. Still, there’s no replacement for those in-person connections that are made in the classroom, and I am really looking forward to getting back to that.”
When it comes to what students would change about zoom meetings, almost all the students said the same thing. Students either said they would start the zoom meetings later in the day, or they said they would like their assignments in better detail. Another student did say they had a hard time getting teachers to answer pretty quickly. But a group of students said the zoom meeting went smoothly and wouldn’t change anything about them at all.
Students were lastly asked on how their classes went overall. Almost all the students said it went really well, and some said it felt normal except the part about actually being in the classroom. Students also mentioned that their homework went really well and they had no problems understanding it. This was truly a great experience for both students and teachers.
Shop instructor Dylan Cerny comments on his online school experience by saying, “This has been a very interesting first year. I think that the online school went well overall, or as well as it could have. It was a learning experience for me as well as my fellow teachers. We all had to adapt to the technology and change how we taught. I think if we all get one thing positive out of this whole ordeal it would be the new teaching strategies and activities we have come up with.”
Have a safe and healthy summer vacation!
