I Miss my Friends and Hate Online Classes

The sudden switch to online-only learning has thrown everyone for a loop.

All of the sudden, we are spending copious amounts of time on Zoom and everything is super annoying. Teachers are either sending way too many emails/messages or none at all. Students are being expected to do all their learning on their own, or so it seems. And they are paying a ton of money for tuition … how about a refund, eh?

We all know that universities are not going to be offering refunds or even discounts on tuition. You are still getting the education, the argument goes. You are still being directed on what and how to learn. You are still satisfying requirements that lead to degrees.

Can now-unused fees be returned? That’s a fair question. I’ve advocated that if we continue online during the summer that facilities and activities fees be dropped. It only makes sense, you know?

Keep your fingers crossed.

So, that leaves us with how students should approach the online learning world. Here are my suggestions:

• Communicate, communicate, communicate.

You have problems with your professor or an assignment? Drop the prof a line. Can’t get through to the prof? Drop the faculty coordinator a line. Can’t get through to them? Pester the guy in charge of academics (hello!).

We only succeed as an institution if our students succeed in life. If we can improve the student experience and ensure that students learn more, please let us know.

If there is ever anything bothering you, address it with anyone who can help resolve things. Do not ever just accept stuff.

Take control of your education.

You should also be communicating with your classmates. You are in a learning community, and everyone has the same goals. Talk to your classmates if you want to clarify concepts or better understand exercises or whatever. Maybe you should have a LINE group (or whatever) for each class, or join the social media group for your major.

Talking to your classmates helps you realize that you are not alone, you are not the only one struggling and everyone is in this together.

• Budget your life.

You got a lot of stuff going on, right? Work, friends, school, internship, family, video games, budding music career, etc.

Yeah, we all do, even in this bizarre virtual world.

It’s so easy to feel mired in the depths of everything when you spend the bulk of your time at home, alone. And it’s so easy to do absolutely none of the stuff you need to get done.

I make lists. Lots of lists.

I make a list of things I need to get done today, this week and long-term. I put every little thing on there just so I can start scratching things off my list. Reading for my Monday class? Done. Blog post? Yeah, that’s done! Grading? Ugh … maybe tomorrow …

This is how I instructed teachers to

approach the online teaching world.

Even when I procrastinate, it’s with an understanding of all I have going on in my life and knowing when things can really get done. I won’t be happy with that list hanging over my head. It gives me a lot of anxiety, really.

I gotta scratch stuff off the list.

• Make it work for you.

You’ve probably realized by now that most of the faculty are not thrilled with this online teaching thing, right? We’re struggling to figure out to make this stuff work. We want to foster stimulating conversations and we get frustrated when we see blank screens and get no responses.

So, step up! If you see a way to make this work, say something! Ask questions, make suggestions and challenge your classmates to get involved.

• Take care of yourself.

Saturday was the first official day of the semi-lockdown in Tokyo. My wife and I went on a five-mile (8 kilometer) walk and stayed away from everyone. It was glorious. Didn’t think about school or students or administrative stuff. Just took pictures and spoke with my wife and enjoyed the beautiful afternoon.

I needed the break from life, especially the news, which I’m obsessed with.

The world is pretty insane right now and we have no idea when things will return to any level of normalcy.

You have teachers telling you that assignments are missing or your APA style is off?

Well, you need to get your work done (and you should use Purdue OWL for that APA stuff) but man, you need to get your head right before you can wrap up that school stuff.

If nothing else, the global pandemic has shown us that the world is fragile, and that things can turn on a dime. Enjoy every second while you can.

Get your work done and think about your future.

But keep everything in perspective.