Online education, in itself, does provide equal opportunity for those to learn during COVID. It allows individuals to make the decision of staying safe at home vs. taking the risk of living on campus. That opportunity extends to students who live out of country, or across seas, so that they do not have to fight the battle that is entering the country (due to COVID) right now. It allows for many students to have a greater opportunity to go to school, with online education being dominant, instead of an occasional option. For individuals that have to work, take care of children, or maintain other duties besides being a student, it provides a new opportunity. Where online learning falls short, is that it is not equitable. Yes, students may be able to stay home or learn wherever they please, but what if they don't have access to WiFi? What if these students depend on issued dining plans for meals? What if these students do not have a safe place to attend class - and further that, what if their environment would be an embarrassment for them? For individuals that have learning disabilities, and other such academic inhibitors, how can they get adequate help through a computer? With these issues being stated, I think a hardship clause for those impacted by COVID-19 would be beneficial. While online school aims to put everyone on the same field, it puts everyone in different positions on that field. There are too many uncontrollable variables and contexts that result not only because of online based education, but due to life during a pandemic. With these things being taken into consideration, in order to fairly begin this clause, those who believe it applies to them - should apply for the clause. After reviewing the applications, it can be decided who should receive the clause.
I have a niece who is six years old. She is in full custody of her grandparents - who are both in their 70's. She is doing full-time online school. She struggles with sitting down in front of a computer screen for hours, and she can't retain what's she's been taught. Her grandparents don't know the material, how to operate her school-issued iPad, or what resources are available to help her. While this is an example of a young child, I think this can be interpreted at a collegiate level as well. I personally struggle with online school. I can not learn through a computer and I think online learning puts too much work on a student. I was always told in high-school that in college it's supposed to be 25% in the classroom and 75% on your own. During this time period, it's 100% on the student. It goes beyond an act of responsibly and relies on a single factor, are you capable of teaching yourself material? For many individuals that answer is no. The ability to learn through a zoom or asynchronous format is a skill most haven't developed yet. It's difficult for an instructor to maintain a classroom environment they have no control over, and putting students into breakout rooms in-order for them to learn the material together, almost never works either. At this point and time, the majority of students are learning nothing and are purely just submitting assignments.
I think that prior to the pandemic, an online learning background would make an individual less competitive in the job market. This is because an online format has less structure and many view it as an 'easy way' to get a degree. With this being the new normal in education, I don't think it will discredit anyone, especially not with the circumstances involved. On a personal note, in this aspect I feel less qualified when compared to someone who took completely in-person courses. I want to go into the medical field, and I think there are some classes that just can't be taught online, that are being taught online. Having medical based students do online clinicals is the worst idea. Not only would I feel unqualified to do the job asked of me, I don't want someone who learned clinicals online to interact with me at a clinic. I have an experience to back this statement up. A few weeks ago, my roommate decided she needed to go to the E.R. The nurse intern, who did her I.V told us she had completed most of her prior clinicals online the previous semester (in order to connect with us). The nurse had problems finding obvious veins, stuck my roommate twice in bad places, and when she did find a vein - blood from it went EVERYWHERE. Nothing against the nurse, and I know her schooling was situational, but I think instances like these should be thought about. How qualified can an individual be if they're never given the experiences needed?
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