Zoom: Tell us how you really feel
By Mallory Rendon
The Zoom meeting room has become the new classroom, as it is the most popular and effective way of communication for educational purposes during the pandemic.
Although it holds many advantages for students and teachers throughout this time, there are also disadvantages that come with Zoom.
When it comes to advantages, students and teachers say screen sharing is useful because teachers now have more control over what the students hear and see in the “classroom.”
Screen sharing is also beneficial for the students, as they said it’s easier to see what the teacher is presenting and they can see all of the assignments that the teacher has assigned, whereas if you were in school it would be harder to see the projector, whiteboard or monitor due to seating arrangements and distractions from other students.
Although Zoom has proven to be somewhat effective, it also comes with struggles, such as students and teachers lacking a reliable internet connection to be able to participate in class as well as others.
Even though the school has provided hotspots to those learning remotely and WiFi on campus, Zoom requires a strong internet connection, which can be a downside for the people that don’t have access to that sort of thing, as it can lead to blurry videos, a lag in audio, and being kicked in and out of Zoom meetings.
This can disrupt the class as students deal with video lagging or teachers having to keep letting students back into the class after losing internet connection.
The majority of students claim learning on Zoom has been more comfortable and work is easier to comprehend. Teachers say working online allows for more flexibility and students who are less likely to speak up in a physical classroom, as they feel that they can now.
Students said that they felt teachers were more “reasonable” this year when it came to turning in assignments and classroom productivity.
“I liked that we were given more time to do assignments and that teachers were a little more understanding about how student’s mental health is being affected,” said an anonymous student.
We asked several students and teachers what they enjoyed the MOST about online learning this year. This is what they said:
Student responses:
“Im at home so I feel more comfortable”
“Being able to spend more time with my family and travel during the school week.”
“The screen sharing, no projector problems”
“Math, It was simpler to learn it.”
“That I get to stay home and my dog is not by herself.”
Teacher responses:
“Some students love learning like this and are excelling when they might not have otherwise.”
“I enjoy the freedom to run my class more like a college setting, in the sense of, here’s what we’re learning, here’s the information I am providing you with, now go on your own and explore this topic more.”
“We were able to create a whole new kind of class where we connect more over current events than shared experiences during class. We are more aware socially.”
“I got an opportunity to meet and get to know students through their writings/assignments.”
“A safer environment for the students and teachers.”
As teachers and students faced many positives regarding teaching and learning through Zoom, some students claimed it was very hard to keep focus being at home as they struggled with a lack of motivation and having a hard time communicating with teachers.
Teachers said their biggest issues and concerns with Zoom were students leaving sooner than supposed to, not finishing their zoom sessions, some students’ lack of internet connection, and losing the ability to focus on the chat and participants log while screen sharing.
We asked several students and teachers what they enjoyed the LEAST about online learning this year. This is what they said:
Student responses:
“I did not enjoy the entire experience I am usually a straight A’s person but iv’e been failing some classes.”
“No social interaction or structure (get distracted and forget work).”
“The isolation, headaches, and the inability to do anything engaging.”
“I didn’t enjoy how awkward it can get, especially when we’d be put in breakout rooms. I also found it difficult when teachers and students were having technological issues, and it was hard to communicate with each other.”
“It was so hard to motivate myself.”
Teacher responses:
“Students logging into Zoom and then leaving their computers on, while they leave to go do something else!”
“Students that leave ZOOM class after being there for just a few minutes.”
“My biggest pet peeve was when I would put students into breakout rooms, then when I would check on them, it would be silent with only black screens.”
“Zoom awkward interface and random glitches/crashes.”
“When no one responds.”
According to the CDC, “the risk of COVID-19 spread in schools increases across the continuum of virtual, hybrid, to in-person learning with the risk moderated for hybrid and in-person learning based upon the range of mitigation strategies put in place and the extent they are conscientiously followed.”
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/schools.html
Lowest risk:
- Students and teachers engage in virtual-only classes, activities, and events
Medium risk:
- Hybrid Learning Model: Most students participate in in-person learning, some students participate in virtual learning
- Larger in-person classes, activities, and events
- Cohorting, alternating schedules, and staggered schedules are applied with some exceptions
- Some mixing of groups of students and teachers throughout/across school days
- Students and teachers minimally share objects
- Students, teachers, and staff follow all steps to protect themselves and others such as proper use of face masks, social distancing, hand hygiene
- Regularly scheduled cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched areas largely implemented with fidelity
Higher risk:
- Students and teachers engage in in-person only learning, activities, and events
- Students minimally mix between classes and activities
- Students and teachers share some objects
- Students, teachers, and staff follow some steps to protect themselves and others at all times such as proper use of face masks, social distancing, hand hygiene
- Irregular cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched areas
Although students surveyed said they would rather go back to in-person learning, we simply do not know when that will be the case.
As cases are still on the rise, Zoom seems to be the safest way to learn.
