Since I’ve returned to campus for classes, I have noticed colossal flaws that come with a hybrid learning environment as it is currently offered at NSU, and for once, my gripe is not with the school, but actually with my fellow NSU Sharks. So, relax, President Hanbury. It’s time for the students to be put in the hot seat.
I get it, adjusting to Zoom has been a challenge and I don’t like it any more than you do, but that doesn’t mean it’s a free-for-all. When I log in to Zoom for a class and see my reflection in the black boxes, I feel pressured to turn my mic and video off too. However, I know I shouldn’t. I’m in class and it’s all because of COVID-19 that we are in this whole mess at all. This isn’t the style of education we are paying for, but it is a temporary solution to a sudden, unpredictable and life-altering event. We should treat our Zoom lectures just like any other lecture. We should try to maintain eye contact with one another, participate in class and actually listen and learn from our professors.
I understand the convenience of Zoom does open up the door to get some chores done in your room or sneakily scroll on your phone — which is blatantly obvious by the way — because it offers up that opportunity without consequences. You could just mute yourself and stop the video camera and multitask while still technically being “in class.” Yet, that isn’t the point of these Zoom calls. If that were the case, all classes would be offered as online classes where a professor just grades what you turn in on Canvas.
Speaking of Canvas, it wouldn’t hurt to check the syllabus and try to stay on task every once and awhile. The amount of times I have heard a professor be interrupted to ask what we were speaking about or given the lame excuse of “I didn’t see an announcement or do the reading” is ridiculous. Now the professor has to stop and take time out of the already stunted class experience to catch you back to speed or waste time asking you to participate. We are in college, and albeit it is different than expected, but we are still held to certain responsibilities, namely paying attention, and if you aren’t willing to do that, please drop the class so the rest of us can learn something.
I am generally a non-confrontational person, and most of the time, the actions of others don’t even drift within my radar, but when it starts to affect my education and the ability for me to squeeze out just an ounce of normalcy in my daily schedule, that’s when my generally pleasant demeanor turns sour, especially with the treatment of professors.
I think a lot of us fail to realize that professors are in the same position and dealing with the same struggles, if not more than we are. They are just as frustrated when technical difficulties arise and especially with interruptions to the class that aren’t necessary. We owe them some respect and gratitude, and if that means just turning on your microphone and video camera while paying attention in class — the bare minimum we can do right now to support them — I feel we owe ourselves and each other that level of respect as we navigate these changes times together.
