The year 2020 has given us the most unpredictable changes worldwide. One big change is universities transitioning to remote learning due to COVID-19. This has been an experience for college students worldwide and each student has a different perspective on the situation. I wanted to take the opportunity to share the various experiences of college students, including myself.
“Transitioning from in-person learning to only virtual learning was shocking at first. In the middle of the week, I was told that I would have to move back home and finish my semester behind my computer screen. I didn’t think it would be much of a difference but I saw the struggle of my fellow classmates and professors and realized this shift would be a much different experience.
I was now trying to wake up and go straight to my desk, which is harder than it appears when you’re in the comfort of your home. I felt uncomfortable turning on my camera because I felt it was an invasion of privacy since these classmates had never seen my childhood bedroom before. I did however appreciate the students that did allow themselves to be seen because it felt a little more normal. Some of my classes had to alter their plans due to virtual learning. Since my Spanish classes focus a majority of their instruction on having a conversation with other students we had to find different ways to interact with one another. I feel that a lot of my professors were thrown into virtual learning without the proper experience but they understood that the rest of the Spring 2020 semester was going to be a learning experience for all of us. As this becomes the new normal I look forward to the new and creative ways professors continue to keep interactive learning in this virtual setting.”
Jeanette Monzon, Student at California State Channel Islands, 4th-year Spanish and Chicano Studies Major
“I am a 4th-year student at CSU Channel Islands and currently majoring in Biology. The transition from in-person to online was an adjustment that took time to get used to. Of course, being in the middle of the semester, that isn’t much. Before the pandemic, I lived about 10-15 minutes away from the school. After moving back home, I was about 70 miles away. Being home, I had to bring both schools and work into my new environment. Every professor had to also adapt to new ways of teaching remotely, which mainly involved video meetings or pre-recorded lectures. Neither of these options nearly compared to the way they can read the audience of students when they realized how lost or confused they are. We always have the option to say something but sitting in a video call with 50+ students was a weird and uncomfortable way of trying to get your professor’s attention for a simple question. A lot of things were new and different which I think made it harder for many people who had to transition, but it was nice to know I wasn’t the only one struggling. Being at home also unveiled a new level of procrastination that I never knew I could reach. Having the choice of laying in bed or sitting in and paying attention to a 2 ½ hour lecture was a choice that got easier over time. Being home also meant chores around the house that also played a big part in distractions.
Over time, trial and error was my best friend. With the help of peers and professors, I was able to find what things worked for me and what I could improve on. For example, breaking down pre-recorded lectures really helped me digest and understand the concepts more efficiently. Unlike the traditional in-class setting, I can rewind something the professor said. Being online also felt that it gave me more time to study the material, which led me to receive better grades. I miss my classmates, peers, and professors very much, but I hope everyone’s healthy and well. Perspective really helped me find my way back on track on where I want to go and has helped remind me where I am now.”
Bryant Cruz, Student at California State University Channel Islands, 4th-year Biology Major
“My experience of remote learning in college was difficult to face at first because I am more of a hands-on learner. I like to be in-class because if I have any questions, then I can ask the teacher right away. Most of my classes were also better equipped in person and we’re supposed to be taught in-class only. This fact made it difficult for my professors to switch to online learning only. Especially since my major is public health which deals with memorization and requires a lot of studying.
Learning remotely got better a few weeks into it when my professors started to get the hang of things. The zoom meetings helped me tremendously for the classes that were better taught in-person. This experience affected me in a good way because I learned better strategies to keep a school schedule and stay on task. It’s helped me to get better at online classes and schooling in general. This experience also affected me in a bad way because I struggled to find a balance between my school time and relaxation time at home. There were times when I wasn’t able to separate the two because my lack of motivation grew. To overcome that I had to set up a designated spot in my house and outside for schoolwork only.”
Kaleia Cuervo, Student at California State University Northridge, 4th-year Public Health Major
“Everything changed so quickly, I didn’t have the chance to react. It felt unreal that all in-person courses will begin to learn remotely. We were told we would move back home and finish school online for the remainder of the semester. As for me, I stayed on campus to work. I was a Resident Advisor (RA) at the time and was a bit more stressful helping residents move out while transitioning to learning online. After everything settled down a bit, I finally took it all in. It was a bit heartbreaking to know everything was stopped and shut down so rapidly. I never got to finish my soccer season with my college club team, had to say goodbye to many of my friends and professors, and now not knowing if I will be able to walk during graduation this coming Spring of 2021 is disappointing. Countless lectures for my communication courses were discussing the new class instructions as well as hearing other student’s experiences through this rapid transition. We all had to adapt very quickly and learn new ways to make sure students have the proper help and support.
I know I was not the only student struggling with this transition but, it was nice to know we were all trying to finish the semester strong. My communication professors were very supportive and made sure they were resourceful in any way they could. Even though I stayed on campus to finish, I struggled with putting myself in check to finish assignments on time. Countless hours I spent on assignments when I could have finished it in a matter of minutes was a new level of procrastination. Eventually, I got back on track and got used to the new environment I will be in for a while. I gave myself a timely schedule to work on each class and really helped me stay motivated. Overall, I learned as long as I stay motivated and push myself, I can strive for greatness in any way possible. I do miss my campus and walking to class each day, seeing the active environment and beauty of the school. I miss a lot of things that my campus has to offer to enjoy my college experience. However, I hope everyone is safe and healthy.”