Virtual Learning in the Midst of a Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has rapidly and drastically altered all of our lives. Sadly, the group of people who are the worst affected, are students. The pandemic has driven many schools and universities to suspend offline classes and switch to the online mode. A year into the pandemic and the situation still continues to remain grim, and many schools and colleges continue to rely on the online learning platform in order to ensure the safety of students and teachers.

A school not only represents a place of learning but is also the primary driver of children’s social lives and represents an opportunity for self-expression. For many, the thought of not returning to schools, seeing their peers, might result in mixed emotions. Although the safety of students and teachers continues to be of utmost importance, it is also important to understand how virtual learning affects mental health and mood, especially in the case of students. Apart from just understanding the effect, it is also crucial to know how parents and teachers can help their children to cope while learning virtually.

Impact of virtual learning

The effect of virtual learning is multifold. A longitudinal study shows that compared to previous academic years, students in the pandemic academic year seem to be more sedentary, anxious, and depressed.

Although education is the primary goal of schooling, it is also a place for social interaction. It provides students with an opportunity to connect with peers, express themselves, and exchange information. Sadly, with the transition to online learning, this point of social interaction is lost. This forces students to feel lonely, unmotivated, and discouraged. It is also seen that students have slowly lost the interest to interact and connect with peers even virtually. Research has shown that this social withdrawal can have serious implications on a students’ mental health. Face-to-face social interactions have shown to reduce anxiety and depression, whereas on the other hand social withdrawal is known to increase feelings of social anxiety and pressure. For example, increased levels of social isolation might lead students to worry about the status of their friendships.

Furthermore, due to the lack of social interaction students may experience unwanted pressures and anxiety in many different ways. Firstly, they may feel anxious about keeping up to date with their school assignments without any physical peer support. Secondly, they may find it difficult to concentrate for longer periods when at home, leading to more apprehensive feelings about their studies. Lastly, being on video calls can lead to feelings of shyness and anxiety.

Additionally, staring at the screen all day long for classes, assignments, and entertainment can further drain out students both physically and mentally, leading to virtual learning fatigue, or more recently referred to as the “Zoom Fatigue”. This mainly happens because our brain finds it difficult to process the information in the way it is normally not used to. During in-person interactions, non-verbal cues such as tone and pitch of voice, facial expressions, eye contact, and body language help our brains to process information better. But sadly, these cues are absent during virtual interactions, leading to our brains exerting extra pressure and energy, leading to extra mental fatigue. This mental fatigue along with the self-awareness of being on-camera results in increased levels of stress for students.

Looking at the bright side

However, although from the aforementioned points, we have gathered that virtual learning increasing anxiety and stress levels of students, there are also some positive benefits. For example, for some students, staying at home during such a difficult time might give them a sense of safety and reassurance. The home environment might become a safe learning space, where they feel more productive.

Furthermore, students who have been victims of bullying and assault at school might find their homes to be an escape from such incidences, thereby feeling more safe and secure at home. Furthermore, virtual classrooms may also provide a way of reduced peer pressures.

Overcoming the challenges of virtual learning

Although, it is not possible to get the same learning experiences as you would get from an in-person classroom, there are a few ways to overcome the challenges of virtual learning, such as those mentioned below.

Have a designated workspace: One of the main challenges that students might face while studying from home is the number of distractions a household has. Creating a designated space for students at home can help them to focus well and be more productive. This designated space can be used specifically for classes and homework. It can also be helpful for students to change the space occasionally, to prevent them from getting bored sitting in the same space the entire day. It is also imperative that students, study and sit for classes in a space that is not associated with any entertainment or relaxation, and also limit the use of devices until the end of the school day, as to how a normal school would be.
Cultivate a positive attitude within your home: Along with students, parents may also be working from home. Similar to students, adults are also prone to many stressors and anxieties. However, it is crucial that parents set a healthy and positive tone at home. Although it is challenging especially in such times of uncertainty and difficulty, parents should try to set a positive example for children. Have a healthy conversation within the household. Children and teens still look up to their parents for emotional support and guidance. The willingness of parents to talk and listen can help children to feel comfortable opening up and raising their questions and concerns. When holding these conversations, parents should try as much to set aside their own stresses, as children may often pick up their parent’s anxiety through verbal and physical cues. Speaking calmly and having a cool composure can help them to talk out their fears. Thereby, a positive attitude in the household will make a difference in the mental health of students, and the entire family during these challenging times.
Follow healthy habits: With the transition to virtual classrooms, students face disruptions to their daily routine. It is, therefore, more important than before to encourage healthy habits. With classes spaced out throughout the day, it can be easy for students to fall into the trap of late-night sleep cycles. It is therefore important for students to follow a regular sleep schedule and have routine wake-up times. Students should also follow a healthy diet and exercise regularly. All these things done together can definitely have a positive impact on their well-being not only during general times but also during such challenging times.