Zooming Towards A New Normal: Solutions for Adapting to Online Learning and Increasing Student Success
Due to the 2019-2020 COVID-19 pandemic, most schools have transferred the bulk of students’ education to some form of online learning. It is highly debated whether or not synchronous online learning is an adequate and effective alternative for in-person lessons. While some children thrive in online learning situations, others face many challenges. Widespread fully-online learning has been considered as the next big wave in education for quite some time now, but it seems the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated this process. Fully-online learning as the norm for education may seem like a futuristic idea, but it is very realistic. The use of online learning systems and collaborative video software like Zoom is rising. It is much more than a trend right now; for most children in America, it has become accepted as part of everyday life. Unfortunately, there are still many issues with online learning as it is currently implemented. These issues range from noticeable reductions in students’ cognitive abilities and challenges with teachers and students adapting to new technology, to nearly limitless distractions and the lack of physical that comes with sitting in front of a screen for extended periods of time. I’m optimistic that we can adapt to this new learning environment and overcome these complications by cultivating better time management skills in students, scheduling daily exercise and break time, and providing teachers and students with easy access to learning opportunities and training with new technology.It is not a stretch to say that many students experienced reduced cognitive abilities after schools transferred to fully-online learning. When staring at the computer screen for prolonged periods of time, users are more prone to experience headaches, which affect cognition and the ability to think clearly. From my own experience, when I have an entire morning of online classes, I feel very exhausted and all I want to do is sleep afterwards. Sometimes I watch hours of online lectures with barely any breaks. During long classes, I start to lose my attention and drift into sleep. When this happens, my perception of time is distorted and I have a hard time putting my thoughts together. I have literally awoken and was not aware of what time it was. When my head is blurred, I can barely remember anything. I struggle to recall mundane things that I am typically able to remember easily, such as exam dates and assignment due dates. When it comes to more complex concepts, my memory patterns seem to be affected even more. Particularly with Global Studies—where I easily learned and mastered foundational concepts such as geographical locations, countries, and capitals of European countries—my fatigue prevented me from recalling simple information during a short, timed exam. I am not the only student who experiences this mental lag. In fact, several of my friends say they have experienced something very similar. Harvard Health reports that watching electronics for a long period of time causes users to be tired (Safeguarding Your Sight). This is often triggered by sitting in one position for too long. As a result, our bodies get used to the “stillness” (much like when you fall asleep). When this happens, we are much more likely to experience fatigue and fall asleep. Although research from Harvard Health shows that, “spending many hours in front of a television or computer screen, or working in poor light does not cause harmful medical conditions;” the study emphasizes that “[prolonged exposure to screens] can tire the eyes and, ultimately, their owner” (Safeguarding Your Sight). Irregular sleeping patterns can lead to decreased productivity in the classroom. This can create a plethora of issues for students. This may explain why I, along with some of my peers, tend to be less productive, lose track of time and struggle to recall information efficiently. In a few extreme cases, some of my friends even forget to attend class and sometimes get behind with their classwork. On the surface, these examples may seem trivial, but research shows that what my friends and I experience is the result of the breakdown in our cognitive processes; this is a serious issue. According to an article from the Wiley Online Library, many online learning situations “introduce the possibility of the internet ultimately negating or replacing the need for certain human memory systems – particularly for aspects of ‘semantic memory’ (i.e., memory of facts) – which are somewhat independent from other types of memory in the human brain” (The 'online brain'). This means that there is a possibility of negating memory systems which can lead to memory loss, difficulty remembering things, shortened attention spans, and even altered sleep cycles. Sleep, in particular, overlaps with all cognitive processes and has a compounding effect on student performance. Science Daily reports that irregular sleeping patterns are often the culprit for students’ poorer academic performance. Researchers studied over 60 full-time Harvard undergraduates and compared consistent sleep schedules to inconsistent sleep schedules. The study confirmed the well-known fact that our mind and body function most efficiently with eight hours of sleep, but the study also revealed that the time(s) of day we sleep are just as important. Charles A. Czeisler, the Director of the Sleep Health Institute at Brigham and Women's Hospital stated, “For the students whose sleep and wake times were inconsistent, classes and exams that were scheduled for 9 a.m. were . . . occurring [during] a time when performance is impaired.” Czeisler describes this impairment as equating to “6 a.m. according to [the students] body clock[s].” The research shows that as a result of this impairment, students “didn't save any time because in the end, they slept just as much as those on a more regular schedule.” This shows that the time students sleep and wake are important and should be kept consistent in order to minimize the effects of online education and prolonged exposure to screens. I’m certain that these phenomena exemplify what most students are experiencing as we spend more time in front of our screens and are exposed to more of the harmful effects of continuous online learning. The results of these studies and my own personal experience may seem extreme, but Wiley Online Library also notes that it is important to remember each student’s experience will be different (The 'online brain'). Even within the small sample size of my close friends, we all experienced these effects to varying degrees. Some were more extreme than others but it is safe to say that increased screen time takes its toll on students. If schools managed online class schedules better and allowed for students to have more breaks—in my case, allowing classes to be spread throughout a longer section of the day—students would have more time to recover from the fatigue and let their brains rest. This would likely help minimize the frequency and severity of memory loss and altered sleep cycles in students. In addition, schools could consider integrating proven productivity methods like the Pomodoro technique. This could help balance work and screen time by providing small blocks of rest at planned intervals, and giving students longer blocks of rest after a certain amount of time is spent working. Productivity methods like this could also help incentivize learning and create positive associations with online learning. When I am in a class or doing homework, I know that after half an hour, I can take a break and do non-academic related things. One example is when I am in the middle of a long homework assignment, I work for forty-five minutes, then I take a 5 to 10-minute ice-cream break or I go play with my pet bird. When I do this, I actually look forward to my periods of work because I know that I have a “reward” if I accomplish them. This process actually “rewires” my brain to think about school work positively. I think this is something that all students can benefit from. Times are changing fast, and our society must reconsider how we can modify current trends in online learning so it is more beneficial to students. Distractions during online schooling can be a big issue. When students aren’t monitored or engaged effectively, they tend to shift their focus to what they enjoy; for most students, this involves tasks like scrolling through social media, browsing web pages, playing video games, watching YouTube or Netflix, and texting friends. Those who don’t succumb to these urges often end up falling asleep because of the lack of positive stimulus. I surveyed 60% of the 8th graders at my middle school and out of the 36 participants, 3 in 5 students (60%) admitted to being distracted and shifting their focus to other tasks during live online classes. 2 in 5 students (40%) admitted that they are on social media, and roughly 1 in 5 (20%) said that they shifted their focus to texting friends. The classroom is a place for learning, asking questions, and exchanging ideas. Students' fixations on distractions such as social media can drastically transform the classroom from a space of knowledge and learning to one of games and socializing. These distractions can be prevented by teaching students better time management skills and showing them how to save time and focus in class more efficiently. This also incentives students to practice time management skills because it will allow students to spend more time doing things they may be more interested in. Implementing strategies to incentivize learning will motivate students to focus on class. To help with this process, teachers should go above and beyond to be more interactive with students. This can range from teachers being more entertaining or humorous with their lessons, to utilizing polls, animations, and memes to keep students’ attention. If teachers require students to keep their cameras on, this can reinforce the idea that the teacher is “monitoring” them. Students are more likely to engage when they know they are being monitored, but this alone, however, does not constitute engagement. In addition, teachers should encourage students to speak up and offer incentives for their participation. Online school can also lead to a lack of physical activity. During in-person school, students get exercise from walking from one classroom to another, PE class, and outdoor recess. But during online school, students probably sit at a desk all day without exercising at all. According to the US Department of Agriculture, the recommended amount of exercise per day for children and adolescents (ages 6-17) is around 60 minutes (Choose My Plate). Most schools don’t include a PE online class, but I think that schools should consider online exercises in their daily class schedule. It would guide students to take a break and do healthy activities. Another way schools can keep students active is to use a fitness and exercise track. Students would have to report back to the teacher on the types of exercises they have done and the length of exercise. Research from Scientific American shows that exercise stimulates brain cell development, improves memory retention, increases focus and concentration, boosts mood, and relieves stress (How Exercise Affects). All these daily exercises lead to better outcomes: such as bolstered grades, better mood, more productivity, and less stress. A decrease in health can also be caused by online learning. Sitting at a desk for too long can cause poor posture that can lead to back pain. Research from Spine-health proves that “Unsupported postures cause the loads on your spine to disperse incorrectly, weakening the tissues in your lower back. As a result, the intricate network of muscles, discs, and joints in your back tend to be pushed beyond their tolerable limit, causing pain” (Is Poor Posture). This shows that there is scientific proof that bad postures can lead to pain in the back. One solution for this issue is new technologies such as chairs that can provide more spine support. An easier, more effective fix is utilizing standing desks. Standing is good for the back because it stands back up straight, instead of curvy and slouched like positioned in a chair. Students could switch from sitting to standing for every class, which would be one of the most healthy options. Using computer devices for too long can also cause eye strain, a symptom of extended electronic use or focusing eyes on something for a long period of time. The amount of time it takes to get eye strain depends on individual conditions, and how often electronics are used. Eye strain symptoms include, “eye strain, blurred vision, headaches, dry eyes, neck pain, and shoulder pain” (Computer Vision Syndrome). These symptoms can lead to unableness to concentrate due to too much pain or eye issues, and bad grades as consequences. A solution that is rumored to be effective is investing in a pair of blue light glasses. But ophthalmologists say that there is no official evidence that blue light glasses help with preventing eye strain. So, don’t spend your money on something that isn’t proven to work. Instead, students can do some eye exercises and massage areas around their eyes in between each class. This will make the eye muscles stronger and decrease the chance of eye strain. Many students struggle with adapting to online learning, and many teachers do also. A surprising amount of teachers aren’t tech-savvy. Education Week shows that over 30% of teachers don’t know how to effectively complete tasks online such as provide feedback for students’ work, teach lessons and work with students one to one (Tech Struggles During). New technology is constantly being developed and there are many convenient functions in existing software that most teachers aren’t aware of. Teachers should be trained more effectively so they can use new technology more efficiently and improve the online learning experience for students. For example, the application most classes use to host meetings is Zoom, which is updated almost every week. Teachers often have a hard time keeping up with learning new features. Teachers should not be expected to learn the ins and outs of new technology every week, but they could definitely benefit from more consistent training. Teachers could also share knowledge among themselves to help each other. These are all things teachers already do; however, schools should make stronger initiatives to provide incentives. Whatever extra pay or rewards that traditionally have been offered for additional training should be greatly increased. Technology is changing rapidly and this will help encourage more teachers to learn the skills they need to increase the quality of students’ education. It is very unfortunate that teachers are not able to teach the class the way they used to. Normally, during in-person class, it is more interactive. However, during online classes, the interaction is largely reduced. A new method of teaching class should be established. For example, a chemistry teacher demonstrates experiments and gives students more hands-on activities previously, but in online classes, hands-on experiments are not practical. The Virtual Reality headset may be a good solution to help with hands-on activities. Similar to pilot training on driving airplanes, it is all virtual, but a very real hands-on experience. Our lives are modifying, whether we like it or not, so we must adapt to the new normal positively in terms of technology. The positive side of online class is students can access more resources from all over the world. They can learn authentic language classes from a native speaker online and they can also take a virtual class from a professor in the top universities. Also, students have more freedom to schedule their own time with online classes. Then they can arrange the time to discover their interests and passions. Online school can save a lot of time on transportation, and on choosing what to wear in the morning. They can spend more time with their family to enjoy the family time. The freedom of time management from online classes can help with procrastination. Procrastination is a big issue among teenagers and middle schoolers. When students are focusing on something they enjoy doing, they are less likely to procrastinate. The online class model provides a longer time that students can manage and focus on their own interests, which will help to improve procrastination issues. In general, online class is an acceptable alternate choice for in-person school. During the pandemic, it is a new but popular strategy to continue students’ education. Like all other new things, it has some issues: students’ reduced cognitive abilities, too many distractions, lack of physical activity, decreased physical health, and technical and academic learning barriers for teachers. It is clear that online learning platforms have affected students and teachers in many different ways. For better or for worse, it appears to be here to stay, at least for the foreseeable future. In order for online schooling to be more effective, we all must consider how we can step outside of our comfort zone and do our best to positively adapt to the new normal. |