Zoom with a view: an introvert’s take on virtual learning

Western announced today – Friday, January 14th – that class will resume in person starting Monday, January 31st for most students (main campus first-year undergraduates will not return for in-person classes until Monday, February 28th).

Brescia issued a similar statement but declared that students in every year of study would be welcome back in-person starting January 31st.

While this development will be welcomed by many, it might be a source of anxiety for others.

For nearly two years, the COVID-19 pandemic has created a constant uncertainty regarding the existence and nature of social gatherings. Students have been forced to adapt to online learning and quick transitions between in-person and virtual classes. The unpredictability of course delivery has been frustrating and has caused many to feel robbed of a “normal” school experience.

Despite the disadvantages that virtual learning presents, some have found silver linings in the situation. With Western’s announcement today about the future of the semester, there may be mixed feelings regarding the university’s decision.

It is important to note that everyone has a different attitude towards virtual learning. One’s experience depends on numerous factors such as their program of study, learning style, living space, and whether their classes are synchronous or asynchronous.

Learning from home can feel more relaxed than in-person. Some may prefer the comforts that staying home allows: Zooming while lying on the couch, wearing sweatpants out of sight of the camera, pausing your camera to have a bite to eat, or even cuddling a pet.

But some of the charms of learning at home could leave students ill-equipped when regular in-person classes resume.

For example, writing exams virtually is entirely different from the reality to which we will eventually return. I am a second-year student majoring in English at Brescia, and I have yet to write a full 3-hour final exam longhand on campus. I have enjoyed writing my essay-length exam answers on my laptop because I can type quickly and edit efficiently.

But while such perks of virtual education might feel like a win at the moment, they don’t help prepare students for their future in-person schooling. My at-home exam writing may well leave me unprepared for my third- or fourth-year exams because of my lack of on-campus test experience.

Professors have said that Zoom classes provide the opportunity to finally see students’ full faces without the presence of masks. However, the idea of showing your face to people you have known for months for the first time can be daunting, especially facing a screen, with rows upon rows of faces staring back at you, in a setup that is nothing like a physical classroom.

After hours on Zoom, I have felt almost like my face is tired from being so aware of it, and my eyes are worn out from examining the myriad expressions on the screen.

I am often surprised to hear the thoughts of other students on virtual classes. A friend of mine, who is extroverted and thrives on socialization, admitted that she prefers virtual learning because it gives her more control over her schedule.

As an introvert whose inclination is to stay at home, I was surprised how much I enjoyed in-person course delivery in the fall semester and appreciated the effects of walking to class and being in a room with my professor and classmates.

I recently heard someone say that they cannot focus on schoolwork at home, and that’s why she chose to return to residence after winter break. Certainly, choosing to attend class virtually from your residence room presents its own challenges; you are in your room almost all day, staring at a screen, alone. Even if you venture to one of the few open study spaces, capacity limits and spacing rules greatly inhibit interaction.

Whether one prefers online or in-person classes, the hardest part can be simply transitioning between the two. Switching from one to the other can feel like the start of a whole new semester.

Ultimately, it is one’s situation and perspective that affects everything. While many might feel unsafe once classes resume in person, others may be relieved to escape the feeling of inertia that virtual learning can create in our daily lives.