Learning virtually can be a blessing or a curse. Online learning can be more convenient, it allows students to work at their speed. But while online learning seems so convenient, it can lead to worse things such as isolation, more screen time, distraction, time management, and learning itself. On average, students do worse in the online learning environment.

Learning online is what all students went through at one point. Covid-19 struck in 2019-2020, taking students on a different education path. Students learned with tools like Zoom and Google Meets. This caused a spike in student misbehavior in the following years and influenced how students act today. Online learning was never optimal for student learning.

Students were often distracted, and could easily make excuses like “My wifi cut out” or “The call was lagging” to get out of classes without punishment. It was an inappropriate environment for students who were more hands-on or dependent. “I think online learning wasn’t that effective, as students just don’t pay attention to any of their classes when in an online call. It makes room for more procrastination,” Helen Desantiago (11) said.

On average, online learning tools often don’t go hand in hand with learning. According to the New York Times, nearly three in 10 students who took a survey in the fall of 2020 said their learning ability was much worse than in person. “During COVID, It was boring, and I felt like I wasn’t learning anything when in these online classes, and I doubt anyone else was enjoying it either,” Cody Delgado (11) said.