Virtual Learning Amid Covid-19

Asad Zamayar ‘22
October 2020

As the Covid-19 pandemic has extended into the 2020 school year, Greenport High School has taken the unorthodox approach of allowing its students to choose between hybrid learning or fully remote learning.

Learning remotely offers unique opportunities not available to students in the hybrid option. Students learning from home have more flexibility over their schedules. For instance, if students end their day with classes that do not have google meets (Art, P.E., NJROTC, etc.), their day is shortened by almost an hour or more depending on their schedule. Students with extra time at the end of the day can easily balance an afterschool career or activity.

However, learning remotely can hinder a student's ability to focus in class. Students are much more vulnerable to distractions such as their phones, entertainment services like Youtube, and other physical distractions at home. Even if a student can avoid most virtual and physical distractions, not being in a traditional learning environment can hinder students' desire and ability to learn.

Still, with virtual or in-person learning available to students at Greenport High School, students can choose what they (or their parents) think works best for them. Even with its setbacks, virtual learning offers many benefits which can, depending on the case, significantly aid a struggling student.