Whether you’re a virtual student trying to get in the swing of things, or an excluded student figuring out how these two weeks at home can be beneficial, you’re probably in pursuit of a little guidance. Enter: Me, a virtual student who feels rather strongly about the positive attributes associated with this unprecedented form of learning.
Starting out not thrilled with the concept of online learning, picking out its benefits was an unavoidable task, as there’s quite the lineup of pros that seem to outweigh the more talked of cons. Firstly, let’s talk comfort, the overwhelming beauty that goes along with at home learning. Wear those flannel pajamas your grandparents gave you, wake up with just enough time to eat a bowl of cereal before class (if you’re part of the fortunate minority that has the luxury of leaving their camera off during first hour, eat your Cap’n’ Crunch while learning quadratics). Lean into it. You can’t do this at school. While we’re on the subject of food, it’s important to note that lunch will be served from your personal kitchen. Ah, the kitchen. It’s not as cold as the school cafeteria and you can eat whatever you can get your paws on. Go ahead and heat up that pizza you had for dinner last night, not a single soul is deterring you from a warm piece of pie. Can’t you taste the freedom?
On the subject of socialization, I’ll argue passionately that it’s not stifled in virtual school; it’s simply different. Being a relatively introverted person, virtual school was a surprisingly pressuring platform that all but forced me to interact with people whom I’ve always known but never conversed with. Consequently, I will boldly proclaim that I’ve made more new friends in the midst of online learning than I would have otherwise made in person. When you see someone everyday in the halls or sit next to them during independent work in class, there’s no real incentive to reach out to them. You know they are there, but that’s all they are: There. Their faint presence is almost noticeable to you, but not enough to keep you from overlooking them. This is a truth that’s hard to admit, but that I theorize most students can attest to. However, building relationships online is practically inevitable as that’s how most class participation is recorded. For anyone who says that virtual learning kills the prospect of forming relationships between students and other students or students and their teachers, I would just like to politely counter: You’re wrong.
One of the most intellectually significant positives of virtual learning is simply that it saves so much time that would otherwise be wasted scrolling through Snapchats, sending pictures of foreheads back and forth between you and the people you barely know. There’s no walking from class to class, no driving to and from school and no waiting for others to catch up in class after you’ve already finished your work. That last one is where most of the Snapchats are sent. In person, school is more of a collective effort where everyone is expected to cater to the needs of others. Not that this isn’t a noble act of consideration, but let’s face it, you have other things to do. Virtually, after finishing an assignment and making sure it’s up to snuff, you can get other things done, school related or otherwise. If you finish your work for Math, move on to English. If you have time between classes, make your bed or even relax and watch TV or listen to music. It’s up to you. Independence is one of the greatest gifts that being virtual will give you.
This isn’t the ideal situation we all had in our head. However, it has become our reality. It’s best not to run from it or wallow. What we should really do is embrace the gifts it’s given us, the biggest being pajama days in high school. I think that counts for something.