Over the past Year, Covid has made it very difficult to join and focus on schoolwork while attending online classes. This pandemic has caused students to miss out on school, so online schooling became an easy way for students to join classes and meet with teachers. This alternative learning provides a convenient way for students to learn, but the question is: is it convenient? 

The difference between online vs in personal school: To allow students to stay safe during this pandemic, online school has been an alternative feature allowing students to learn. Students are logged on to join a class in which they can hear their teachers and classmates in person. They proceed to listen to their teachers speak while they follow along and do their schoolwork. Although this seems like a great option, how great is it?

After interviewing a few students from the school, the online school has been perceived to be more difficult to engage with classes. Students say that it is difficult to talk to other students and teachers while they are simply staring behind a computer screen. It feels “awkward” for students to speak out over their microphones

because it feels as if you are talking to yourself, or no one is listening. It’s hard for students to interact and make bonds with one another while they are stuck at home watching a live video. Although this is a safe and effective option, some students may argue that there could be better ways to follow along with school.

In today’s society kids rely on their phones to keep them out of boredom. We asked Taryn Brodine what her average daily screen time is and it was around 10 hours or more a day. Students at home use their phones during the time they are supposed to be learning in class.  Brodine also stated, “My phone distracts me the most at home because I usually have it next to me. I can usually stay away and off of it most times but there’s always a time when I get bored in class and go on it.”

Another concern for students during online school is how they are using their lunch break and wellness Wednesday time. Students have been shown during school to go on their phones and take breaks. Wellness Wednesday has been made to give students a break to get organized, catch up on school work, and have study sessions with teachers. Instead of students using their time usefully, they use their time to catch up on tv shows or go on their phones instead of getting circular help. This shows how technology and phones distract us during class.