Hard to keep up

Rhema Pearl Taeza

Twoyears in the online class has never been easy. Almost everything is new and everyone seems to groping in the dark.

As schools try to adapt to the new normal of online learning, students’ academic success and progression become at risk. All day stuck on the screen while being drowned with academic requirements that feel so endless. Being able to attend and do academics seem like a privilege. Considering not everyone has the access to fast and stable internet and not everyone has the luxury of time to attend online classes due to other responsibilities given to them at home even when education should have really been a priority.

Students fail to attend to their academic responsibilities, leading to non-compliance. Those who used to be academic achievers become less and less active during the onset of online classes. Why? A number of possible reasons are at hand but great emphasis is on the lack of motivation. The longtime lockdown with less face-to-face interaction is the reason for motivation going to ground zero. All social media platforms made available of interaction are nothing compared to physical interaction. Concentration has also gotten more difficult. Students find it challenging to maintain their attention span during lectures when they are staring at a screen all day without teacher directions. Distraction is everywhere. The temptation to check the phone or any available gadget from time to time is hard to resist. The noise in the neighborhood is relentless. The bed is inviting for a slumber. Technically, students are present but their attention and mind are elsewhere. Without the close supervision of teachers, students lose concentration. Blessed are those whose teachers and parents are ever present.

With all honesty, it is really hard to learn alone. Even with the availability of stable internet connection, latest gadget and most comfortable study corner, learning is tougher than ever. The limited time of engagement is one factor. Teachers are unable to teach what they used to. Learning competencies are put to a certain limit. Imagine a 60-minute online class and the rest of the days of the week, they go asynchronous. Students find themselves reading, watching, writing, answering and trying to understand learning tasks on their own. Imagine, if questions pop and no one is there to help them answer their questions. Certainly, there are other problems that remain unresolved as more problems arise.

It is really hard to keep up! Learning has become an obligation! Nothing can really beat a face-to-face setup. The news of an improved learning modality is in the works. Here comes the talk about this hybrid or blended learning which is a synchronous learning that simultaneously teaches both inperson and online learners. With this, will it improve teaching instruction? Will it ease the challenges faced by students? Will it ensure quality education? Will learning stop being just an obligation? Will the students be able to keep up with it?

Wait for changes…hopefully for the better!