It was extremely fascinating to hear from people who had influencing voices during the rapid shift to virtual learning and could provide insight into what the thought process behind certain choices was. I found it equally interesting that the individuals leading the Impact on Education seminar chose to focus only on the limitations of the virtual learning format. Although it is well known that the pandemic brought about several issues (such as isolation, depression, increased domestic abuse, etc.), one thing that came about—that I view as a positive—is the ability to work virtually and the positive consequences of this tool.

Despite the very notable issues associated with virtual learning, several benefits are also associated. For example, although mental health issues did arise as a result of virtual learning, for those that experience severe social anxiety, mental health issues may have been eased. For those that have complex and quickly moving class material, students were able to pause, slow down, and rewatch course lectures and therefore, have a more solid understanding of the material. When fatigue and hunger would set in during the middle of a lecture, students could pause the material, take a break and resume rejuvenated and focused. For students that have invisible disabilities (i.e., although they may appear perfectly able bodied, they face challenges) and may be unable to attend classes, they have easy access to lectures without having to provide medical information to the school/professors. While there are several challenges linked to online learning, these examples illustrate that there are also several positive outcomes of virtual learning which brings me to my next point. During the Impact on Education seminar, I was utterly shocked when one of the speakers mentioned that he was debating if he should or should not record and post lecture videos next semester. I was completely stunned at this statement because, a person in his position should be aware of not just the negatives related to virtual and hybrid learning, but also the associated benefits. Additionally, I was shocked at his statement because it minimizes the experience and needs of people with invisible disabilities, social anxiety, or students who get sick and prefer not to potentially infect their fellow classmates. In short, the virtual or hybrid format is a tool (not without limitations like other tools and approaches) that has been proven to be effective at enhancing productivity—below is an article that further details this. Ultimately, I hope that individuals in a position to influence change on campus will continue to speak to students about their experience, resources needed, etc. (this should not be the first and only time a forum type of discussion with students related to the impact of COVID occurs) and advocate for solutions that considers everyone and their unique needs. Additionally, I hope that professors and others realize the potential benefits of the virtual and/or hybrid format and use it in combination with live classes (e.g., simply record and post lectures for their students) because I firmly believe this small action can make a major difference for countless students.

Article link: https://www.shrm.org/hr-today/news/hr-news/pages/study-productivity-shift-remote-work-covid-coronavirus.aspx