While there may be benefits for students to attend in-person classes, there are also many advantages to being online.
Besides being convenient to students, online classes can also have a positive impact on the school’s ability to help cut utility costs. Colleges use many resources to help keep the campus running, but that also comes with wasting them when there aren’t many students attending classes, which is why Pierce College should only offer in-person classes on Friday.
Cutting down the days during the week and having Fridays online, can help reduce carbon footprint by 20%, according to Clrn.org. By lowering the need for commuting and disposable resources.
While students may prefer online classes, or have never tried a Zoom class, the occasional Friday remote class can work for most students regardless of circumstance.
According to Daniel Morse, “Zoom allows for seamless recording of class sessions. These Zoom video recordings are often more accessible for people” Not only do these class recordings help students go back to review the material, but being placed in groups online can help them become engaged in the assignments.
Students who have questions and may need more one-on-one time with their professors can use Zoom to meet with them more conveniently. This gives both the student and instructor the opportunity to interact with one another and help the student with questions they may have from previous classes.
Habits are also an important key factor when taking advantage of these classes online. Self-management is a hard skill to develop, however, taking online classes can give students the chance to use their free time to focus on their well-being without having to worry about commuting to campus.
Often many students who are attending in-person classes can become distracted by what other students are doing or saying. An article by English Revolution Learning explains that “This means that when instructions are given for tasks, your students are less inclined to be distracted by the other students in the room.” This also can help those who are always often comparing themselves to others in the classroom and having to deal with them being self-conscious about their ability to learn.
However, this not only helps the environment but also helps schools save money. Clrn.org states, “By reducing the number of days schools are in session, schools can save on utilities, transportation, and maintenance costs.”
Many students have their opinions on whether or not classes online can benefit them due to the different experiences during the pandemic. Some students benefited from having classes online and it can’t be ignored that having classes online via Zoom can have a positive impact on their studies and their overall well being.