Working from home: The student becomes the teacher

Aeden Africa

Teachers are utilizing Schoology, Google Classroom, Pearson Realize and other online sites to get work out for students, but with a lack of proper face to face communication, students are left feeling confused and overwhelmed.
Junior at UACHS, Erika Gantt expresses her feelings about the online work expected to be completed. Gantt believes that face to face communication prevents any confusion with directions on an assignment.
“I find some of the homework very confusing”, said Gantt. “It’s unfair that we are expected to do this homework without a face to face lesson.”
The addition of zoom conference rooms has allowed for students to communicate and ask questions directly with the teacher. However, this is causing a disconnect due to a lack of student attendance. Susan Chenelle, UACHS’ supervisor of curriculum and instruction, recognizes the absences and has ensured that UACHS is doing everything they can to help students.
“Some students aren’t able to join for various reasons, and the teachers report the absences,” said Chenelle. “We’ve provided tablets to any student who has asked for one, and we’ve reached out to students to see what else they might need.”
Chenelle and UACHS recognizes and acknowledges the problems that come with working from home, but students are still upset about the work being given.
“We should be given more time since we are doing these assignments by ourselves with little or no help,”said Gantt. “These assignments are hard and are overwhelming.”
Most work is due by midnight that day, some even being due a couple of days later. These inconsistencies of due dates leads to an overlap in class work. One class might have daily assignments while another has bigger assignments due every few days.
Junior Chris Paniagua has been a visual learner for all of his schooling, and these current circumstances have caused him to adapt.
“Some of the work really isn’t that hard”, said Paniagua. “It’s a matter of self learning, but now it’s harder and takes more time to do. It piles up.”
Ethan Edmilao, soon to be a senior at UACHS, believes that the expectations the teachers have of their students is too much.
“I had a project assigned, but it required me to go out and get materials that I currently didn’t have,” said Edmilao. “It’s weird that teachers are expecting us to get work done in a stressful time like this. I’d rather focus on my mental health and family’s health than a grade right now.”
With the COVID-19 pandemic extending school closure till September, teachers will continue to use online schooling to stay connected with students. It is now the students responsibility to stay focused, take what they are given, and use it to continue their education.