The online learning part of this semester has been a difficult time for all of us. For some of my friends it's been difficult due to an unstable or destructive home life. For others it is simply the isolation, and time away from friends. For me, the isolation has hurt me academically more than it has emotionally. I don't mind being stuck at home; I'm close with my family and can keep myself happy by pursuing hobbies that wouldn't be available at school, such as cooking and building my car. The real issue is in the actual learning part of online school.
What online school lacks is a physical environment that is conducive to our success. A place where school is the focus, and help is within reach. When trying to learn at home I simply cannot focus. Lectures are watched at my desk where at any moment I can go off on my phone. Even if I resist that temptation I still find myself daydreaming, and before I know it I'm completely lost on what is happening in lecture. So, I go back a minute and repeat that same process over and over. Hour long lectures take two hours to get through, and even longer to actually understand. When it comes to studying and doing homework the story is the same. I am no longer in a lounge surrounded by peers doing homework as well. Instead I am in the same room of the same house I have been for the last 7 weeks, the room I sleep in, and relax in. Youtube and Netflix are the closest thing whenever I start struggling, as opposed to like minded classmates willing to lend a hand.
Now this lack of understanding is not completely my fault, I have no issue learning from videos on youtube. In fact, videos from My Organic Chemistry Tutor and Michael Van Biezen on Youtube have been my saving grace for PHYS 161 this semester. What I get in online lecture videos from my professors are dry, monochromatic, hard to follow lectures. They click through slides as if they were at the front of the lecture hall. Mindlessly working through problems. This does not work. Without the engagement brought by face to face contact, the majority of students will struggle to pay attention and even more struggle to actually make the conceptual connections needed to succeed in the course. Another professor has managed to do even worse; his lectures for the first month of online classes were simply him answering questions that students had posted on elms. He taught nothing. He had no lectures planned. All I want is for professors to do better.
Now this behavior is not displayed by all my professors. I will say that Dr. Justin Wyss-Gallifent (subbing in for Dr. Wong) has done a great job of moving lectures into the online format. He handwrites all the notes on a tablet (not writing with the mouse…) in a recorded video, so the pace is perfect for students to follow along. They are organised well, easy to follow, and interesting. Additionally he splits the screen into two "pages" so that he can erase one side at a time, so student's have a chance to catch up on the notes as he moves onto the next problem. Beyond this his success has also come from actually just being a good lecturer, something I unfortunately cannot say about many 100 level professors. I have really found that online lectures aren't too bad if the lecturer is enthusiastic and already a good teacher (i.e. Dr. Holtz!), but when they aren't it is very difficult to learn. Overall, I would like to see better organization when doing problems, use of multiple colors, and more explaining and less doing. Instead of just solving a problem, actually work through it as if they were guiding a student. Label each part/step. Illustrate conceptual concepts. Basically watch a Khan academy video and do what Sal does.
If the situation were to continue even bigger changes need to be made. Beyond my previous suggestions, curriculums need to be reshaped to fit the new circumstances. This means less exams and more closely guided assignments. On a more personal note, I will have to go about creating a proper learning environment for myself within my house. A real desk, free of distractions, for me to watch lectures and work would be very beneficial. Being realistic taking a semester off may be a better move, for the sake of remaining healthy and sane.