‘Home’ School 2: Students Take on Remote-Learning Challenge
Carlos Argueta
Manchester has just completed its first week of online classes, brought on by the COVID-91 isolation, which forced professors and students to work from home. The university is a one of the hundreds of schools around the country that are walking into uncharted territory, with most schools moving every class entirely online.
While Manchester faculty have the difficult task of rethinking the delivery of their classes, students are trying to adapt to their new temporary lifestyles of staying at home and staying clear of COVID-19.
“It is a very serious situation for everyone,” said first-year student Ruben Gonzalez. “It will be difficult for me not to be in class and being at home with all these distractions.”
Although this transition into online school will be strenuous and a learning process for everyone, students feel the university did what was necessary and right to protect the community and made the best out of the situation presented.
“I think Manchester did a good job of handling the situation,” said first-year student Dylan Leininger. “The university took their time with the decision and did a great job planning out the move away from campus onto online teaching.”
While students are spending much of their time with online classes, everyone is trying to fill the rest of their time with other activities like watching movies, exercising, FaceTiming with friends and family, and playing games. “It is hard being at home all day because I do not get to see my friends or go out,” Leininger said.
To help students fight the boredom, the university is still holding events online like the Student Research Symposium on April 24, and many student athletes are keeping busy by doing joint workouts with other teammates online through video chatting.
“The soccer team has a spring workout plan that we are doing right now where we focus on fitness and ball skills,” said first-year student Alex Parr. “We are trying to make the most of this time and trying to build up our overall game.”
Despite the government announcing social distancing will continue at least until April 30 while COVID-19 cases increase all over the country, Manchester students and faculty are doing their part in the fight against the virus.
“This whole experience has been emotional because I cannot see my friends or do the activities I like to do,” Parr said. “So everyone should do their part and stay home to prevent the virus from spreading.”
Overall, student morale appears to be high, even during this tough and challenging time. Students understand the world is facing a problem that has not been seen in decades and knows that it will take the whole community to eradicate COVID-19 through social distancing.
And students like Parr and Leininger are doing everything they can so that by fall they can return to campus and start the new school year on a good note.