To many, a virtual learning day might seem like a good thing: “School at home, where I can sit in my bed.” On the other hand, is a virtual learning day really as great as it may seem? In the past, this day had once been a full day off. However, many students found that the experience of online learning was hard to stay focused on, caused headaches from long screen time, and was overall inefficient. While it may seem better than a regular day of school or even a day off, in reality, it may not have been that way for everyone.
Many students claimed that they felt “left behind” after returning to school the next day, as the lesson they completed online was often laggy or difficult to understand due to the many distractions that come with learning at home. Others skipped the virtual learning day altogether, making it harder for teachers to cover the curriculum necessary for all students. Several teachers also expressed their discontent with online learning, noting that it was challenging to keep students engaged and on pace throughout the day.
After conducting a poll asking 40 students whether they felt they learned anything from online school, 66% noted that they didn’t learn much, even in more serious, AP-level classes. This shows that the issue affects not only general classes but also higher-level courses that require more focus and interaction.
However, it’s worth noting that virtual learning days allow schools to preserve a day off and reserve it for another break later in the year. Many students who answered the poll said they would prefer a virtual learning day over having a shorter break, even if the learning itself was not as effective.
These are just some of the concerns that both students and administration have had regarding the virtual learning day. What do you think of this challenge? What could be a possible solution to this issue? Is there a way to make online learning more effective?