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Logging on to virtual classes every morning, there is a feeling of disconnect. It's not the same, that much is obvious. Something is missing. Virtual learning removes the sense of community that comes with school, the feeling that we’re all accustomed to. While all of us have been impacted by this sudden change in our education, our widespread feeling of isolation doesn’t compare to that of the incoming students that haven’t yet received a feeling of normality or belonging. Attending a new school is challenging regardless, but it’s difficult to imagine what it’s like for new fifth and sixth graders on a daily basis.
Virtual learning has been a major adjustment for all students, and has had an impact on the way that we are able to learn. While virtual learning has been a major adjustment for all students, fifth graders in particular have had an especially difficult time adjusting to Masterman. Starting at a new school is a difficult adjustment regardless, but it’s made much more challenging when you are experiencing it in person.
When asked about how they were handling the increased workload, the majority of interviewed fifth graders attested to the fact that there were many more distractions and difficulties with virtual learning than there would be otherwise. In fact, the vast majority of students found it more difficult to comprehend their work and found this isolated form of education much more confusing overall.
For some, however, virtual learning hasn’t been all that bad. Fifth grader Sophia Plastaras (5-4) put it this way: "I think my teachers are making virtual learning as fun as possible, but I still feel badly after being on the screen all day. I also feel worried that I might miss an assignment or that there will be technical difficulties in turning it in. Overall, I think virtual learning is really helping us during this difficult time but still tricky to get accustomed to."
Another 5-4 student, Rowan Bastien, agreed, but felt that the cons of virtual learning heavily outweigh the pros. Many fifth graders felt that the frequent technical difficulties, combined with how difficult it is to privately interact with a teacher made it much harder to focus in class and learn effectively.
In order to address some of these challenges, fifth graders Cecelia Nagy, Michaela Bland, Bjorn Seaberg and Isaiah Galloway formed a learning pod, or a group of students in the same quarantine bubble that are attending virtual school together. The unique perspective of someone that was able to interact with peers in person during the virtual school year was very interesting. While they felt that having each other made it much easier than it would be otherwise, they often felt disconnected and lonely, and felt like they were missing out from the “real” Masterman experience. When asked about the struggles of online school, Bjorn Seaburg stated: “I’ve done online schooling alone before, and it can be really lonely”. Despite the fact that the stress of the normal school year was somewhat nullified, it was agreed that even doing virtual learning with peers that you know is daunting.
The general consensus of all the students we interviewed was the same: pod or no pod, virtual learning is lonely, isolating, and overall not the same. All students know how lonely it can be, and while there are times virtual learning seems like usless torture, we don’t feel its affects quite as much as new Masterman students. There are 5th and 6th graders that don't know any of their peers and don't have access to forms of communication outside of school, but we are glad to see they still continue to work and hope that someday they get to have the real Masterman experience.
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