COVID-19 impacts both students and instructors

MChe Lee
@mclee

TOMMY KIMBROUGH
reporter

The difficulties of doing classwork online are impacting students and professors.

Teaching in a virtual classroom to 150 students does not bring on warm fuzzy feelings compared to a live audience of actively engaged students participating in lecture discussions, TR government instructor James Goss said.

There are difficulties that students face now that a singular spot must be designated as a workplace. Typically, students could come to campus and use resources such as the library and computer lab, but because of the pandemic, students can’t seek out the same materials as before.

“I currently have no computer or laptop at home and easily get distracted by my younger siblings to get things done,” NE student Spencer James said.

The ability to continue learning for student’s online due to COVID-19 has surged into a great success, TR student Jefferey Ortega said.

“With these specialized technologies such as Apple or Microsoft, with Zoom to see face to face on a computer or laptop helps the online learning process in this time,” Ortega said.

The daily schedule from driving to campus to working from home is a big difference for the daily goals I have set to get done, he said.

Ortega said online courses allow him to work at his own pace.

“Distractions from home have become the biggest task,” he said. “There are some days where the video game console is right there, but being disciplined in the work that needs to be done is easier said than being able to.”

The toughest part of learning an assignment is trying to get help because it’s harder to contact your professor online as opposed to in class, TR student Anthony Garcia said.

“Sometimes discussing issues or problems with your instructor in person is a lot easier than typing it out or trying to explain it in face-time online,” he said.