By Zufan Bazzano
On Wednesday, April 6th, I woke up feeling groggy and sluggish. I felt a pang of anxiety when my grogginess wouldn’t go away even after having my morning coffee, which usually woke me up energized and ready to go. Wednesdays are my busiest days of the week. I shuffle from class to class (one of which was my three-hour seminar) to soccer meetings and night practice. Trusting my own instinct I decided to send an email to my two professors to ask if I could zoom into class instead of attending. They said yes with ease and I was thankful for their accommodation.
When our classroom consisted of staring at computer screens while in the comfort of our home (with pajama pants of course), I was in heaven. I felt more comfortable participating and speaking up in Zoom classrooms. Maybe it was the relief of not having to constantly check myself (my body posture, appearance, eye contact, etc) when I’m around people. Or the convenience of the mute and camera off/on the button. Or the easy escape to make tea or coffee at any moment.
Three years ago, before the COVID pandemic and virtual classes, casually asking a professor if you can zoom into class would not have been an immediate thought for most people. Whether you get the flu, get severely injured, or miss the train to class, it would have resulted in you missing a day, a week, or weeks' worth of class.
The COVID-19 pandemic drastically disrupted and changed the system of higher education. Within a span of a few weeks, students and teachers were sent packing home and had to readjust every aspect of teaching and learning. Virtual settings became an everyday part of life. Fast forward to a year and a half since the beginning of the pandemic and platforms like Zoom and Google Classroom are still being used today (though not as much) to host events, office hours, meetings, and guest speakers.
Although the pandemic disrupted higher education, it also introduced us to a new way of learning that’s more accessible and equitable for students. If a student “feels groggy” but wants to participate they can join virtually. Or vice versa; if a professor were to get sick or had a circumstance that forced them to stay home, they could simply move the class virtually. This semester one of my professors moved class virtually for a week because his five-month-old daughter was sick.
Signing in virtually to class can benefit a wide array of students: those with health and medical needs, international students dealing with immigration delays, and active-duty military students with conflicting schedules. Professors and institutions that provide a virtual option to class can accommodate students that can’t be on sight due to lower classroom capacity or accessibility needs.
The onslaught of COVID and virtual learning raised issues of equity and inclusion for BIPOC and low-income students. Virtual classes exacerbated the inequalities in higher education, however, it also allowed space for more equity and inclusion initiatives, especially amidst the “racial reckoning” of summer of 2022 which prompted privileged institutions like higher education to have urgent conversations about equity and inclusion. Administrations in higher education that help accommodate professors (by training them how to navigate the virtual space) who wish to provide a virtual option to their students can be helpful for people's mental and physical needs.
Being uprooted from the social structure of school and transitioning to virtual classes isn’t always the best option for everyone. Numerous studies have focused on the downside of virtual learning: zoom fatigue, distractions, lack of structure, social isolation, etc. But there isn't nearly enough focus on the advantages. I wouldn’t want to relive quarantining and living every aspect of our social lives online. However, I appreciate the comfort and social connections brought to me through the convenience of virtual communication.
Virtual communication is a step towards a more equitable and accessible environment for all. Whether it’s a professor holding virtual office hours, virtual meetings, or having a virtual option to class if circumstances come up.
As the pandemic stagnates and more and more scientists are hoping for the SARs virus to become the “next common cold,” will the convenience of the virtual services continue to be available? Or will higher education “retreat to the old, pre-pandemic habits?” Prior to the pandemic, I can recall countless times when I’d either been too injured, sick, or unmotivated to walk 10 or 15 minutes to class and played tug of war with myself to decide if staying home was worth missing an important lecture, a project presentation, or important conversations. Now, if any of these scenarios were to happen I would feel reassured knowing I can zoom into class instead of missing out on important lectures.
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