BY: DAVID NELSON

DAVID.NELSON@YAHOO.COM

Ever since the pandemic arrived in late 2019, countless schools across the country have  been greatly affected by it. Graduations were postponed, sports were canceled, and other events hosted by schools were gone. MSUM was not an exception to the consequences of the  pandemic. During that time, the college eliminated a list of programs due to financial reasons.  This also resulted in positions, possibly associated with those eliminated programs, being cut. As  of now, none of the casualties are even rumored to return to the school’s overall list of programs. 

The most obvious influence of the Covid-19 pandemic on colleges and high schools is  how education is being conveyed. Many students were accustomed to the traditional method of  delivery, which is in person instruction. There may have been some aspects of online utilization,  but that would have been minimal. Due to the virus spreading in early 2020, schools generally  shifted to the online format of schooling. This was done to avoid a greater spread among students  and families. This was also carried out in hopes that the new measure would aid the decrease in  infections. 

The experience of online school is now something that a lot of students have in common. Although, college students’ schedules could be quite different if it were to be compared. It would  depend on the program. Some classes offered at MSUM can make that transition without  breaking its stride. Other classes, needing a more hands on approach, would have to manage another way. 

Cade Solberg, a second year political science major, reflected that, “It was definitely a  different experience to what I’m used to. It was very interesting to see what specific classes were  picked to be in person versus which ones were picked to stay online.” 

The in-person class method of delivery is something that almost every child growing up is familiar with. That form of education requires the recipient of knowledge to be physically  present for lessons. That may be tiring for some people but there might be a few benefits that  could be overlooked. Both Noah Severud and Cade Solberg presented pros and cons to online  and in person learning.

“Obviously the big pro about being in person is that you can interact with other people  and make relationships and friendships.” Solberg stated after he was asked his thoughts on the  more traditional side of learning. 

However, Noah Severud, a MSUM sophomore English Education student, pointed out  that, “This year, it feels like I’m sitting in class a lot more and I don’t have the free time outside  of class as much as I did when it was more online.” 

The argument can be made that online classes offer a more streamlined and time effective  style of education. If school were to be taught in that manner moving forward, students would  not be obliged to spend a number of hours sitting in classrooms every week. 

When it comes to online learning, there are a few options that are available to professors  for their courses. Students at the school are familiar with all three variations. One of those  options would be the hybrid option, which mixes the in person and online formats. Another  option for the faculty to consider is the synchronous online option. That format does contain  regularly scheduled class meetings that are usually hosted over zoom. The third option is the  asynchronous method. This style of material instruction is much more flexible than the other two  mentioned. The lessons are taught through videos and reading assignments, contained in a  module, can be finished anytime within the week in which it’s assigned. 

Opinions on online delivery vary from student to student. 

Severud advocated that, “It’s nice to go about your own pace more than it is in person.” The online variation of schooling does offer students more freedom in terms of how often  information is accumulated into the mind throughout the week. There is no need to finish a  particular assignment in an afternoon.  

Solberg offered his point of view through the lens of his major. He said, “For my major,  politics, I’d rather have an in-person class for discussions and debates with each other.” 

The discussion aspect of the education format is critical to better understanding other  people’s opinions. Without that, there would be more divisiveness and argument. From the  writer’s perspective, my typical experience with online discussion is nonexistent. Everyone has  their microphone muted and every camera is switched off. It is silent and dark. 

Online synchronous classes might be useful for certain classes, but is it necessary for some  others? There are classes offered that do seem to be more assignment and objective based than  others. Such as an introductory mathematics or science class. Is asynchronous a more suitable  option in these cases? 

Severud makes the argument, “If there’s an online option, I’d always pick the  asynchronous option. Some classes just make more sense as asynchronous, in my opinion. If it’s  going to be synchronous online, sometimes it feels like, why am I here? It doesn’t progress as  much.” 

Two years into the pandemic have come and gone. College students have seen several  changes happen during that period. Classes have shifted back and forth, like tides of current,  from online to in person. Due to the rising number of reported COVID-19 cases, that unpredictable  tide could rock the ship back into the online direction once again. One thing is certain in the  midst of uncertainty, that is the human element. It will almost certainly be lost with a possible  shift to online class.