By Cassidey Kavathas, Contributing Writer
As students return to campus this semester, a majority still face the challenge of online classes. With the threat of COVID-19, at-risk professors have chosen to conduct classes via Zoom.
The use of Zoom in online classes sparks multiple opinions from students around campus.
“For Zoom you just roll out of bed and get on versus actually having to get up, get ready and go to class. It’s just better,” said Danielle Aiello, a freshman education major.
Having an online class in the morning is more convenient for her then waking up and getting ready for the day, though Zoom becomes less convenient for her due to technical or communication problems.
“Professors usually forget to send the link out. I would appreciate it if they could send it out 10 minutes before just to be more organized,” said Aiello.
With the amount of emails a normal student receives a day, the link quickly gets lost.
Marco Then, a freshman psychology major, said he feels the same way.
“It’s hard to keep track of on Outlook and inconvenient to go through the process of going on Moodle and pulling up the syllabus,” said Then.
Aside from communication problems, Zoom often crashes or professors have a hard time setting up and carrying out meetings.
“Often during my Zoom lectures, my professor forgets to share the screen and that’s frustrating,” said Aiello.
Both Aiello and Then said they prefer in person classes to online.
“I need that in-person connection with the professor and with Zoom classes you’re just there,” Aiello said.
With Zoom, it is harder to develop a personal relationship with professors as well as receiving one-on-one help.
“I feel that it is harder to learn the material online,” Then said.
Students say they agree with Then, as they find it harder to comprehend material in the online setting. With some tutoring services online as well it becomes increasingly difficult for struggling students to receive help.
“People with learning disabilities need that in-person contact; without It’s a real struggle for them,” Aiello said.
Using Zoom doesn’t help students who are struggling with disabilities but often makes the situation harder.
“With my computer, the speakers aren’t great so it’s kinda hard to hear sometimes,” David Hayes, a freshman sports management major, said. Though Hayes is not auditorily or visually impaired, Zoom does not accommodate people with those impairments. It currently does not have the ability to produce subtitles. It also does not have the ability to describe what is on the screen for visually impaired persons.
Just like in-person classes, professors have set rules for their Zoom lectures.
“My professor prefers that everyone keeps their camera and mic off because it’s kinda distracting,” Then said.
There can be interruptions out of the professor and students control such as roommates, outside noise and flashing lights. Students also face their own distractions without a set space to focus on work.
“Sometimes I’ll even be playing Playstation in class,” Hayes said. Many students give up some of their privacy during Zoom meetings by having their camera on while in their personal space.
“All of my professors want our cameras on which is kind of annoying,” Aiello said.
The pandemic has shown the importance of in person classes.
“I really miss being in class and just one on one with the teacher,” Aiello said.
Learning using Zoom is still relatively new and different compared to in person classes.
“In-person learning to me is invaluable,” said Hayes.
Zoom is a temporary solution and all in-person classes may resume in the future.
kavathcj20@bonaventure.edu
