Distance Learning Continuing into 2021
As the COVID-19 pandemic persists, online school is likely to continue into second semester
By Jace Szarlacki
As the COVID-19 pandemic persists, online school is likely to continue into second semester
By Jace Szarlacki
Administrators, teachers, and students are progressively adjusting to this new way of learning. Teachers have reevaluated their lessons and students are struggling to stay engaged, while the odds of a second semester in person seem to dwindle as COVID-19 remains prevalent.
As of Oct. 28, the disease was still infecting more than 4,000 people in California every day, with Santa Clara County averaging approximately 100 new cases daily. On Sept. 16, the San José Unified School District announced that distance learning would remain in place at least through December.
“This decision has been one of the most difficult decisions we have ever had to make as a district because we know in-person instruction is the best way to serve our students, and we are deeply disappointed that the conditions in our community do not allow us to safely bring our students back to school campuses at this time,” said the district’s announcement.
The change to distance learning at the beginning of the school year was difficult as teachers had to learn an entirely new online platform, Canvas, on short notice, and it has been difficult to adjust. Woodshop teacher Gary Stalions feels that this change has made it more difficult to teach and has greatly increased his workload.
“This is my twelfth year of teaching and it feels like it has been just as hard or even more challenging as my first year. I've gone from eight hour workdays to ten-twelve hour workdays and some weekends. I know that I am not the only teacher experiencing this. It is hard, it is exhausting,” said Stalions.
Art teacher Laurie Kirk believes that the communication barrier presented during online learning has also affected the healthy bonds students get to form with their fellow peers and teachers.
“The biggest challenge for me is that I cannot get to know my students in person. With the technology challenges present in distance learning, it really is difficult to make those meaningful connections that make for a fun and encouraging learning environment,” said Kirk.
Waking up and walking a few steps to a computer to start the same school routine everyday has a toll on students' attentiveness during class. After the district's ruling of a definite first semester online and a possible second virtual semester as well, Chad Spence, 9, has continued adjusting to learning from home, despite the challenges..
“It’s hard to stay focused or motivated to do the work because it’s so easy to zone out and stop paying attention when you are sitting at home, rather than being in class,” said Spence. “It’s easier to learn things in class with the teachers right there.”
Students aren’t the only ones experiencing such dramatic adjustments, as teachers and counselors have had to replan and regoraginze the ways they communicate and instruct their students. The physical education department has been working to construct creative ways to keep students engaged while not having access to many facilities and objects usually found at school.
“As a PE department we have collaborated to provide workouts which focus mostly on bodyweight movements. We have our students participate through the workout and then provide a reflection on Canvas explaining what they experienced while participating with the movements. These reflections give feedback so we can adjust our workouts to improve the fitness of all of our students,” said PE teacher Frank Villareal.
With the new year online, some colleges have readjusted and rescinded a portion of their admission processes due to the ongoing pandemic. This unique factor and the usual online communication stagnancy have reshaped the way counselors perform their jobs. Counselor Nicole Pearson has noted the changes that her department has made to aid seniors applying to colleges during this time.
“The college application process has been online for many years so that has not changed much. However, the requirements colleges have are a bit different. For example, the UC and CSU systems are not requiring students to submit SAT or ACT scores this year which is huge,” said Pearson. “Counselors had to revamp the way we contact students and parents as well as completely redo many of our processes and presentations. Because many of us counselors are working from home, we had to modify our letter of recommendation process for seniors and move it to an online platform.”
Students and staff of all grade levels are enduring this once in a lifetime catastrophe. Never before have teachers and students conducted all of their classes solely online. Though this online learning isn’t ideal, Assistant Principal of Instruction Brendan Simon is grateful for the efforts of staff and students to make everything run as smoothly as possible until in person learning can be resumed.
“Students and parents have been amazing with their patience and understanding through this process,” said Simon. “When it is safe to return, my hope is that we all come out of this experience with an appreciation for the ability to learn in person and engage in normal school activities.”
As of Oct. 28, the disease was still infecting more than 4,000 people in California every day, with Santa Clara County averaging approximately 100 new cases daily. On Sept. 16, the San José Unified School District announced that distance learning would remain in place at least through December.
“This decision has been one of the most difficult decisions we have ever had to make as a district because we know in-person instruction is the best way to serve our students, and we are deeply disappointed that the conditions in our community do not allow us to safely bring our students back to school campuses at this time,” said the district’s announcement.
The change to distance learning at the beginning of the school year was difficult as teachers had to learn an entirely new online platform, Canvas, on short notice, and it has been difficult to adjust. Woodshop teacher Gary Stalions feels that this change has made it more difficult to teach and has greatly increased his workload.
“This is my twelfth year of teaching and it feels like it has been just as hard or even more challenging as my first year. I've gone from eight hour workdays to ten-twelve hour workdays and some weekends. I know that I am not the only teacher experiencing this. It is hard, it is exhausting,” said Stalions.
Art teacher Laurie Kirk believes that the communication barrier presented during online learning has also affected the healthy bonds students get to form with their fellow peers and teachers.
“The biggest challenge for me is that I cannot get to know my students in person. With the technology challenges present in distance learning, it really is difficult to make those meaningful connections that make for a fun and encouraging learning environment,” said Kirk.
Waking up and walking a few steps to a computer to start the same school routine everyday has a toll on students' attentiveness during class. After the district's ruling of a definite first semester online and a possible second virtual semester as well, Chad Spence, 9, has continued adjusting to learning from home, despite the challenges..
“It’s hard to stay focused or motivated to do the work because it’s so easy to zone out and stop paying attention when you are sitting at home, rather than being in class,” said Spence. “It’s easier to learn things in class with the teachers right there.”
Students aren’t the only ones experiencing such dramatic adjustments, as teachers and counselors have had to replan and regoraginze the ways they communicate and instruct their students. The physical education department has been working to construct creative ways to keep students engaged while not having access to many facilities and objects usually found at school.
“As a PE department we have collaborated to provide workouts which focus mostly on bodyweight movements. We have our students participate through the workout and then provide a reflection on Canvas explaining what they experienced while participating with the movements. These reflections give feedback so we can adjust our workouts to improve the fitness of all of our students,” said PE teacher Frank Villareal.
With the new year online, some colleges have readjusted and rescinded a portion of their admission processes due to the ongoing pandemic. This unique factor and the usual online communication stagnancy have reshaped the way counselors perform their jobs. Counselor Nicole Pearson has noted the changes that her department has made to aid seniors applying to colleges during this time.
“The college application process has been online for many years so that has not changed much. However, the requirements colleges have are a bit different. For example, the UC and CSU systems are not requiring students to submit SAT or ACT scores this year which is huge,” said Pearson. “Counselors had to revamp the way we contact students and parents as well as completely redo many of our processes and presentations. Because many of us counselors are working from home, we had to modify our letter of recommendation process for seniors and move it to an online platform.”
Students and staff of all grade levels are enduring this once in a lifetime catastrophe. Never before have teachers and students conducted all of their classes solely online. Though this online learning isn’t ideal, Assistant Principal of Instruction Brendan Simon is grateful for the efforts of staff and students to make everything run as smoothly as possible until in person learning can be resumed.
“Students and parents have been amazing with their patience and understanding through this process,” said Simon. “When it is safe to return, my hope is that we all come out of this experience with an appreciation for the ability to learn in person and engage in normal school activities.”