The world has been changing all around since the start of 2020 thanks to COVID-19 and the many challenges that came along with it. Workplaces, schools, families and more have been forced into new routines for an amount of time yet to be determined. One of the new norms is the switch to virtual school for some students. Now that school in the FHSD has been going on for six weeks, the great and the not so great qualities are showing up for both virtual and in person learners. 

FHC personal finance teacher Ashton Witthaus is in the middle of a whole new norm for in person schooling while simultaneously teaching virtually and senior FHN student Taylor Dunbar is learning to navigate life as a solely virtual student.

One thing that many people form throughout high school is bonds and relationships. Now that people are  doing virtual school some have realized that making connections is harder than what they thought it would be. 

“I miss seeing my friends and teacher everyday,” Dunbar said. “I think that it is important to have a good relationship and bond with your teacher and you can’t really form a bond or relationship behind a screen.” 

With virtual school comes a new platform of learning and getting  information. One of those platforms for both virtual and face to face students is Canvas. It is new to both the teachers and students. 

“It is easier because all of our classes are on the same website and you have easy access to everything,” Dunbar said.  “Everything is laid out for you including your assignments and tests.” 

Now with new platforms there is a need for new learning styles. Which creates more struggles for students and teachers transitioning from in person to virtual.

“Worries I have are not being able to help those who are not getting their work done,” Witthaus said. “I’m not physically there to help encourage and support them like I would in an in-person classroom setting. So it will definitely take a lot of communication to happen in order to support students who are struggling.”

Another thing that online schooling brings to the table is the importance of  time management. Most of the time students are  able to do things at their own speed, which can be helpful with trying to balance other classes, but can also be difficult to manage. 

“I figured out less is more in an online class,” Witthaus said. “I didn’t want my students to be overwhelmed. I think the biggest thing for me was for me to recognize that I am not the only teacher and class that you are working through. That my students have other things that are going on.”

Focus is a new thing that has come into view with online school. Of course there are students that don’t focus regardless of if they are in class or virtual but some find that being virtual pushes them to the focusing limit with the amount of screentime they have.

“I am a person who likes being more hands on, Dunbar said. “Being in-person you get told directions directly. Sometimes, it’s a bit hard for me to focus and being behind a screen makes it more difficult to focus because I am at home and I have all sorts of distractions at home”.

Online school is the new normal for many in 2020. There will be ups and downs but the outcome of staying at home is positive for some who chose to learn in that way. 

“Even though I personally find virtually learning a lot more difficult than in-person, I am glad that I am because it will keep everyone happy and will stop the spread of the virus,”  Dunbar said.