The issues of online learning continuing from the perspective of University students within England.
University is already a challenging experience, but with the introduction of online learning within the last year, it is an added challenge for students. For many students online learning has proved to be a difficult experience, despite universities across the country announcing they plan for the learning approach to continue.
While for what seems to be a small minority of students, online learning may have had a positive impact on their university life, for the large remainder of others, the added isolation an distractions from learning remotely has proved to have an affect on their grades and mental-health. Online learning has also been critiscised by many as being unfair as students are still having to pay their full price tution fees, depsite it not being the same experience or teaching style.
David Walker, a student at the University of Leeds, has just finished his second year upon his teaching degree. David has had to adapt to online learning since March 2020, which was halfway through his first year, supposedly labelled as ‘the best year’ where as a fresher you’re experiencing a new place, meeting new people and learning new things.
Now, a year on and halfway through his teaching degree, David fears that if things carry on like they are, he will be receiving limited, if any, face-to-face teaching next semester, with the UOL announcing that they are taking a blended approach to learning and teaching.
David told us, “I don’t think people realise how hard it can be to concentrate on work when you’re sat at home and you have all these distractions and things going on, compared to when you’re actually in a lecture hall. It's just so different. Online learning shouldn’t carry on next year as students aren’t getting the right education that they are paying for”.
"Not only is it about the money thats being wasted from our learning methods being completely changed, but also about the mental-health impacts too. I'm studying to be a teacher but to be honest, this whole pandemic has made me rethink if thats the career i want to do".
Many students across the country have similar views about online learning continuing, with a petition demanding the UOL return to full face to face teaching reaching over 4000 signatures as it stands:
Due to the drastic change in teaching from universities this past year, many have introduced policies to ensure students results are not at a disadvantage. Leeds Beckett University was the first to set up a safety net policy for their students with more universities across the country following suit. However, not everyone student has received the same level of support during the difficult time within their studies.
Lewis Bottomley, a final year student at Liverpool John Moore’s University, has stated: “Learning remotely has had such a big impact on my grades and there’s been no safety net or changes in marking from LJMU, when most other universities have introduced them - how is that fair?”
Ryan Tune, a first year student at Manchester Metropolitan University, told us about his experience with learning remotely and how his mental-health at University has been impacted by the pandemic.
"I moved to Manchester for university with the hopes of meeting new people on my course and in my student accomodation who have similar interests. As a fresher, it was nothing like it was described in other years - I felt isolated and stressed trying to learn about my new course and complete assignments whilst not being able to go into campus or see anyone. Obviously they annouced that universities could re-open in May, but i still only got one day a week of teaching time and the rest was online. If they carry on with remote learning next year then i think i'll really struggle".
It's a waiting game to see if such universities will continue with their teaching plans for the next academic year, or will the thousands of signatures on petitions from students mean online learning stays in 2021?
If you are are a student who is struggling with online learning or any other matter, please visit the Mind charity website here.