What do teachers and students think about online learning after 2020?

2020 was quite a year. Even before the pandemic, online courses were growing by leaps and bounds. In 2018, according to the National Clearinghouse for Educational Statistics, there were nearly 7 million people enrolled in accredited online courses in the United States. That number does not include private or non-credit training programs. It was estimated that as of late spring 2020, more than 90% of students were taking courses online at some point due to the virus. But with all these changes, I thought it would be interesting to compare what teachers and students thought about online teaching since the dust… or maybe the shock and transition, has settled a bit.

I started looking through blog posts and articles on what teachers and students were saying about online teaching/instruction in 2020 and this is a bit of what I found.

TEACHERS

1. Teachers were shocked by how much work online teaching was and can be. Many professors said that they had never before compared an online course to a traditional course in terms of content and workload. They were surprised by the amount of research that went into building the course, the time it took to develop the course, and that their in-person lesson activities didn’t always work well in that format. It took them a long time to learn the learning delivery/management system and they were surprised by the amount of time it took to check in with students, grade assignments, and post/discussion forums.

2. The teachers were also surprised by the differences in communication. Establishing presence and relationships and delivering timely and appropriate feedback was very different.

3. Technological overload. For teachers just starting out, it can be overwhelming to sift through all the wonderful and cool tech tools out there. It can also be overwhelming to think about technology you’ve never used before, instructional design issues, and accessibility compliance. Most found that they used just enough to get the job done and to be effective.

4. If the teachers are tired, what about the students? Teachers were stumped on how to keep students engaged and interested virtually or online. There was quite a learning curve in figuring out how to get students to complete assignments, participate in class, and stay motivated. Many realized that timelines, flexibility, and consistency were necessities. Many teachers mentioned the importance of communicating with students throughout the course, as well as sharing ideas, concerns, and thoughts with other colleagues. Use your school and other colleagues to offer tips, advice, and ideas about teaching online.

STUDENTS

1. In general, students liked to learn at their own pace, especially if they were in a different time zone.

2. They wanted instructors to provide more clarity or direction in instructions and expectations. They also wanted more virtual office hours to ask questions instead of via email. Students also asked for more timely feedback.

3. Too much work! Not all students have access to fast internet services, which made it difficult to take exams and final exams. Some instructors break tests into smaller quizzes, but this adds to the student’s workload during the week. It is also important for instructors to assess how long it takes students to complete readings and assignments correctly.

4. I need a break, please. Zoom fatigue is real. Students asked for webcam breaks, opportunities to stretch, or to do a different activity to interrupt the lectures. They also asked for different kinds of activities so it wouldn’t be the same thing over and over again.

5. Students wanted to have social interactions with their peers. One benefit of online courses is that students can interact with other students that they may not have had before. Many students reported that class discussions helped them engage with the material while facilitating social connections.

6. Show your personality. Students really like it when their dog is barking or when there is something interesting in the background. They want to build and form relationships with you. Sharing bits of your personality and your life are ways you can do that. It also encourages persistence and participation.

Teachers have a lot of pressure on them to deliver quality education correctly. The Covid-19 pandemic has forced many educators, who never in their wildest dreams thought they would, to teach online. The silver lining in looking at both sides of the coin is that students don’t seem to be looking for perfection, they are still looking for an engaging and social learning experience. They want to get to know you and they want you to keep their interest. So teachers don’t worry. Keep doing what you’re doing and delivering courses to the best of your ability. Use the resources you have and reach out to colleagues or experts to help you through this. The students seem to be learning and adjusting very well.