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Joselyn Convery

Tammy Barense

Composition

13 December 2023

How COVID-19 Impacted the Way We Learn

As a result of the COVID-19 virus, many students chose or were forced to enroll in online

education. Eventually, students were able to go back to their normal lives, but some students

still preferred online education (EDSCOOP). In 2019, 34.7 percent of students were reported to

be taking at least one online class. After COVID struck, approximately 1.2 billion students were

out of the classroom (Hindawi). A survey taken on pharmacy students stated that most of the

students felt that online learning negatively impacted their stress levels (58%), mental health

(57%), and physical health (46%)” (National Center for Biotechnology Information ). Online

school and face-to-face school have many similarities and differences in location, content, and

pacing.

Online and face-to-face schools differ by location. According to a December 2021 online

article, there is no physical location for online students. They can access their education from

anywhere with an internet connection (Structural Learning). This allows for work from home,

local coffee shops, or even while traveling. Another online article adds that the flexibility of

online school allows students to create their study environment, adjust it to their specific needs,

and not have to worry about how they will make it to school. (Yellow Dig). When attending
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public schools, students are required to attend classes in person which limits their learning to a

certain location. In-person schooling also restricts what students can learn and how many

courses they can take (Unigo). The only education available to these students would be from the

school closest to them. Online school is way more accessible to students than in-person school.

When attending an online school, you can take whichever classes you like but in

face-to-face school, your classes are chosen by the school district. Being able to choose

whatever courses you would like to take would make more opportunities available in the future.

The freedom to choose what they are learning would make students more motivated to learn

(The Hechinger Report). In an in-person school, the school district determines what you have to

learn. Later in high school, you may have more freedom to choose some classes you are

interested in but still have to do mandatory classes (Prep Scholar). Students who are unable to

select their classes may become uninterested in what they are learning. Taking the same classes

as everyone else may be beneficial since you will have others who can help you with your work,

but it may also negatively affect you because you may all apply for the same job. When enrolled

in an online school, you can control more of what you learn than you would at an in-person

school ( Harvard Business Publishing Education).

Attending school online allows students to work at their own pace rather than a

face-to-face school which has a pacing guide that is set up by their teacher. Online school offers

scheduling flexibility and promotes self-discipline (Washington State University). Allowing

students to work at their own pace can help them have a greater understanding of the subject

(Teach Hub). It can also help with stress and worry about their schoolwork. Having a pacing
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guide that is put in place by your teachers ensures that you are on track to finish your course

within the time you have. According to an article written in 2023, this will help prevent students

from putting off their work and falling behind (Hidden River). The pace at which you finish

online school is more flexible than in-person school.

There are several differences between online education and face-to-face school,

including where students do their work, the type of material they receive, and the time range in

which they must finish their work. In online school, students can choose when, where, and what

classes they are taking. Public schools have a set pacing guide on when work has to be finished,

what they have to learn, and where they have to do their work. In conclusion, students who

attend online school have more say in their schooling than students who attend school in

person.
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Works Cited

Buck, James ``. “The Pros and Cons of In-Person Schooling – Hidden River Healing.” Hidden River

Healing, https://hiddenriverhealing.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-in-person-schooling/.

Accessed 12 December 2023.

“Can students take any class they want?” Unigo,

https://www.unigo.com/admissions-advice/can-students-take-any-class-they-want.

Accessed 11 December 2023.

“Classroom Learning vs. Online Learning | Washington State University.” Online MBA &

Executive MBA, 9 November 2023,

https://onlinemba.wsu.edu/blog/benefits-of-flexible-online-learning-environments-for-p

rofessionals. Accessed 12 December 2023.

Drea, John. “Online? In Person? The Power of Letting Students Choose.” Harvard Business

Publishing, 19 March 2021,

https://hbsp.harvard.edu/inspiring-minds/online-in-person-the-power-of-letting-student

s-choose. Accessed 11 December 2023.

“4 Ways the Flexibility of Online Learning Helps College Students.” Yellowdig, 5 September 2023,

https://www.yellowdig.co/post/how-virtual-learning-make-education-more-flexible-for-s

tudents. Accessed 11 December 2023.

“How Did the COVID-19 Pandemic Affect Higher Education Learning Experience? An Empirical

Investigation of Learners' Academic Performance at a University in a Developing

Country.” Hindawi, 10 February 2021,

https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ahci/2021/6649524/. Accessed 8 December 2023.

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“Impact of COVID-19 on the academic performance and mental health of HBCU pharmacy

students.” NCBI, 2 March 2023,

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9977613/. Accessed 12 December

2023.

Kiser, Selena. “The Benefits of Student Choice.” TeachHUB, 17 December 2020,

https://www.teachhub.com/professional-development/2020/12/the-benefits-of-student

-choice/. Accessed 12 December 2023.

Mathewson, Tara García. “Some schools personalized learning by giving students a say in what

they learn.” The Hechinger Report, 24 January 2019,

https://hechingerreport.org/some-schools-give-students-control-over-their-learning-but

-where-should-they-draw-the-line/. Accessed 11 December 2023.

“Remote learning in schools.” Structural Learning, 14 December 2021,

https://www.structural-learning.com/post/remote-learning-in-schools. Accessed 11

December 2023.

“Students prefer online learning, survey finds.” EdScoop, 21 June 2023,

https://edscoop.com/students-prefer-online-learning-survey-finds/. Accessed 11

December 2023.

Wulick, Anna. “What Classes Should You Take in High School? Expert Advice.” PrepScholar Blog,

5 January 2020,

https://blog.prepscholar.com/what-classes-should-you-take-in-high-school. Accessed 11

December 2023.
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