Covid's Affect on the Classroom

The main effect the pandemic has had on my life is the way our education system works. Since March, I have been zooming into my classes from the comfort of my home, rather than seeing my teachers and professors face-to-face. This all sounds luxurious; not having to get up from bed, staying in your pajamas, turning your camera off and zoning out when you wish. But, the truth is, online learning is not beneficial, and is creating a large gap between those who can easily access internet, and those who can't. There are some individuals who just can't afford high speed internet or a computer, which are 2 resources needed for online learning. These students who simply can't afford the technology needed for class now are suffering with failing grades, and even are dropping out of school all together. In today's world with the pandemic, your socioeconomic status directly correlates with your future. Students no longer have the opportunity to attend school, since they don't have the resources to join in on the online servers. I believe that there should be a hardship clause for students who truly cannot complete their coursework due to the pandemic. If students are able to prove that they do not have access to internet or a laptop, extensions should be granted by teachers, or even a "gap year" should be allowed to be taken until classes are in person again. Personally, I do not think I am as prepared for my future as the previous years. Online learning is difficult; it's easy to get distracted, challenging to learn concepts on your own, and difficult to keep track of when assignments are due. Students are now expected to learn and grasp a concept without much interaction or discussion. Online learning takes out the application part of our learning, which ensures that students truly grasps the concepts. Because of this, students will either have a harder time in the upcoming years, or the job market and education system will shift due to a whole generation losing so much time in school.