As of April 13, ICSD students have been receiving their education through Distance Learning 2.0. Students at IHS have expressed varied opinions about this system and its effectiveness. According to a survey of the student body conducted by the Tattler, 81 percent of the 83 students who responded think that distance learning is less effective at teaching material than regular school, and 42 percent feel there is less work than before.
When asked why students feel distance learning is less effective, responses ranged from, “I’m not actually learning anything. It all feels like busywork that is not engaging at all” to “I don’t like that we get through content so much slower. I actually want to learn more! Even though there is less work, without the structure of school every day it seems as though there is a lot of work to do, since I am at home and can do other activities.” However, some students like this new structure because there is more freedom, saying, “I like that I can choose when to do my work, and I like being able to take control of my time in quarantine and make my own routine.”
Distance learning has also affected the mental health and motivation of students at IHS. 79 percent feel that on a scale of 1-5 (5 being very stressed), their stress levels are between 3 and 5. When asked why they feel this way, most of their responses listed missing their friends and feeling unmotivated. Many feel that working at home is stressful because, for many students, school can be an escape from the struggles of home life.
There were several changes that students suggested the ICSD could make to improve distance learning and decrease stress levels. Students mentioned that teachers could organize more face-to-face classes with smaller groups, which would help them understand the material and encourage them to speak out. The poll results also expressed that teachers could try to incorporate more hands-on work and video lessons.
Many students also wanted the ICSD to be more clear about the end date for school, and institute some stricter guidelines for how much work teachers can assign. “I definitely think teachers can be more prepared, and get some actual teaching done rather than just relying on students to teach themselves and ask questions during office hours. I also feel like if all the due dates were on one day, it would be a lot easier to keep track. Since all the teachers have different due dates and we only have each class once a week, it can be a little difficult trying to keep track of everything,” one student said.
The transition to online learning has been challenging for everyone, including teachers, and many of the problems don’t have a simple fix. Many students hope to return to regular school in the fall, remarking, “I’ll be glad when it’s over,” and “I miss my friends and teachers.”