By Jasmine Bridges
This school semester, college students are facing difficulties in learning because of the new changes around COVID-19.
The fall 2020 semester is not like any other regular school semester for college students; this has become one of the most challenging semesters for students because of virtual learning. Some colleges offer hybrid classes where students can still come in person on certain days and attend online on the other days.
“Attending classes in person was a little scary for me because of the COIVD cases still rising from students moving in on campus early August. I chose to attended virtually which I recommend no student should do, it is hard to keep a schedule going but was more convenient in the sense that I do not have to leave my home. But because of that reason, I lacked motivation a little, before, leaving to go to lecture halls gave me the motivation to get up and be productive. Now I have to push myself a little more to stay on my schedule.” Travon Sterns, a student from the University of Michigan, said.
When attending classes, some professors make students turn on their cameras for reinsurance that students are paying attention, and students are in a space where they can learn and focus on the material being taught. A virtual professor can still break students into groups and have class discussions. Professors are still trying to give students the same learning aspect they would receive if they were in person for class.
For students attending Central Michigan University, when attending classes in-person, students must wear a mask at all times, temperatures are checked before coming on campus, and there are hand sanitizer stations by each exit door for students to use. Signs are placed on the ground where students should walk and stand to incorporate social distancing, and inside of the classrooms, desks are spread six feet apart.
“I attended classes for the first three weeks of school in person because my classes were hands on classes that required a lab so it was mandatory we attend the lab in person. Most students wore their mask while in class but when they were switching classes to different classrooms in the same hall they would take their mask off, that made me feel uncomfortable. It was hard to do labs because of sanitizing all of the equipment before and after using and sometimes there were plastic bags over certain equipment so we could not be touch, but I still had to use that equipment for our lab.” Christine Caddell, a student at Central Michigan University, said.
Instead, students attended classes online, or in-person students were still faced with obstacles that hindered their learning; nothing is the same as when students attended classes last year. This new way of teaching and learning is something people will have to get used to because this is becoming the new normal in society, unaware of when COVID-19 will be over.
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