Opting for Alternate Online Services
While Webex is the main video service provided for teachers, some have switched to its competitors
By Saya Fujii
While Webex is the main video service provided for teachers, some have switched to its competitors
By Saya Fujii
So far this school year, everything has been online and because of that, new problems have come up, connectivity and meeting security being the two most prevalent.
During distance learning, students and teachers have had to deal with issues. For some students, the connectivity problems are interfering with their learning, and for teachers, the video service security hasn’t been very good, as students on several occasions have logged into meetings that aren't their classes and been disruptive and inappropriate on purpose.
English teacher Chanel Sulc thinks that the Webex security has improved partially, but at the start of the year she had issues with people entering her classes and causing harm to her students as well as creating a distraction.
“Without proper security, people (both from within and outside of Pioneer) can enter into classes they are not a part of and cause disruption. This is not only an issue in terms of disrupting content, but it can create an unsafe environment. A lot of the people that have hacked into classes have spewed slurs and other offensive language,” said Sulc. “As a teacher, my highest priority is the safety of my students, both physically and emotionally, so when disruptions like this arise, it is incredibly frustrating to have so few options in terms of how to resolve it.”
There are also problems with connectivity, and some teachers are using different video services that work better for them. While Cisco Webex is the district’s given platform, some teachers prefer alternatives such as Zoom or Google Meets, which math teacher Jeneé Dampier uses for her classes.
“I feel like it runs smoother and has more user-friendly options. I can see all of my students, utilize captions for when students respond to questions, and share my screen very easily,” Dampier said. “I used Webex for the first week of school, but stopped using it because of the lagginess.”
Assistant Principal of Discipline Tim Gavello has encountered new problems on distance learning, as the rules on the digital campus are much different than those from in-person schooling.
“I don’t feel like any issues have disappeared, but a person going into a Pioneer teachers’ class when you attend a different school doesn’t happen with in-person learning,” said Gavello.
Even with all the chaos and confusion during distance learning, Jeneé Dampier thinks there is a positive in the flexibility added from the online platform.
“Students in online school should focus on how unique this opportunity is and how to maximize their learning. There are so many tools online that we don't usually utilize in class without having to request chromebook carts,” Dampier said. “Students are getting more one-on-one attention when they need it and I think the fact that we've all adapted to this new system shows a new level of resilience in everyone.”
During distance learning, students and teachers have had to deal with issues. For some students, the connectivity problems are interfering with their learning, and for teachers, the video service security hasn’t been very good, as students on several occasions have logged into meetings that aren't their classes and been disruptive and inappropriate on purpose.
English teacher Chanel Sulc thinks that the Webex security has improved partially, but at the start of the year she had issues with people entering her classes and causing harm to her students as well as creating a distraction.
“Without proper security, people (both from within and outside of Pioneer) can enter into classes they are not a part of and cause disruption. This is not only an issue in terms of disrupting content, but it can create an unsafe environment. A lot of the people that have hacked into classes have spewed slurs and other offensive language,” said Sulc. “As a teacher, my highest priority is the safety of my students, both physically and emotionally, so when disruptions like this arise, it is incredibly frustrating to have so few options in terms of how to resolve it.”
There are also problems with connectivity, and some teachers are using different video services that work better for them. While Cisco Webex is the district’s given platform, some teachers prefer alternatives such as Zoom or Google Meets, which math teacher Jeneé Dampier uses for her classes.
“I feel like it runs smoother and has more user-friendly options. I can see all of my students, utilize captions for when students respond to questions, and share my screen very easily,” Dampier said. “I used Webex for the first week of school, but stopped using it because of the lagginess.”
Assistant Principal of Discipline Tim Gavello has encountered new problems on distance learning, as the rules on the digital campus are much different than those from in-person schooling.
“I don’t feel like any issues have disappeared, but a person going into a Pioneer teachers’ class when you attend a different school doesn’t happen with in-person learning,” said Gavello.
Even with all the chaos and confusion during distance learning, Jeneé Dampier thinks there is a positive in the flexibility added from the online platform.
“Students in online school should focus on how unique this opportunity is and how to maximize their learning. There are so many tools online that we don't usually utilize in class without having to request chromebook carts,” Dampier said. “Students are getting more one-on-one attention when they need it and I think the fact that we've all adapted to this new system shows a new level of resilience in everyone.”