In the era of COVID-19, online learning has become the norm, and I can confidently say I’m not the only one who took full advantage of this change. Why would I possibly wake up an hour before a class began, when rolling out of bed three to five minutes prior was also acceptable? Maybe it isn’t advised, but still acceptable. With in-person undergraduate classes currently ongoing for the spring semester, this laid-back style of learning might be a thing of the past.
I know this sounds bad, but hear me out. One of the best things about online learning is the freedom that comes with it. If you find yourself starving during class, instead of trying to pretend it wasn’t your stomach that just growled in a silent 300-person exam, simply take your laptop into the kitchen and grab a snack. However, I would recommend not pushing your luck with this privilege, as going to the bathroom or taking a shower are tasks that prove too risky when the unmute button is just one accidental click away.
A lot of people might argue that it’s far easier to pay attention during in-person lectures. The professor is right in front of you and the distraction of your phone is minimized, but do you remember the behavior of some of the people in those lectures? The frat guy sitting in front of you who won’t stop talking about the rager last night and how he downed a sidewalk slammer at the pregame? Cool… Or what about those people who come to class with the most abhorrent coughs that sound truly hospital-worthy, and out of an entire auditorium of seats, decide to bless you with their presence in the neighboring seat? If you have a class with Comm kids, I don’t really know what to tell you, except I’m truly sorry and wish you luck — AirPods will be your best friend. Not to mention, it is exponentially more awkward running into your post-Trin 3 hookup while handing in a blue book than it would be from behind the comforting blanket of a black screen on Zoom. College students can be distracting, and unfortunately there is no speaker view in real life.
I want to quickly address the topic of naps, as I feel they’re integral to my surprising newfound comfort in online learning. Without the added burden of walking, bussing or lime-ing to your next class, naps are more accessible than ever. A 30-minute break between lectures is no longer fruitless, and I’ve found even 15-minute naps can do the trick after a sleepless night.
If we do ever go back to fully in-person learning, I want to apologize in advance to any of my future professors for dozing off in the middle of class. Some of us are going to have a harder time than others amidst this transition but I promise — it’s not you, it’s me.
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