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Since the middle of March 2020, the whole education process at LEAF Academy transitioned into distance learning in order to protect our health in the first place and respect the restrictions of the Slovak government. Now, almost two months after adapting to distance learning, came the right moment to share the first-hand experience from our students – Alexia Benáková (Y4), Jakub Patrik (Y3), Dominika Kleinová (Y2) and Adam Kučera (Y3).
1. How did you adapt to the distance learning process?
Alexia Benaková:
“For me the process was smooth. I enjoy the increased autonomy and decreased workload that online learning provides, especially because it gives me time to focus on what is important. That is not to say that we don’t work – our teachers do their best to make the classes engaging. I actually think most of classes are more efficient at the stage of learning I’m currently at. In our school we don’t usually have study weeks before our final exam, as is the Slovak custom, but now it kind of feels like we do. Of course I miss some aspects of school, but I’m glad to have the time to prepare thoroughly for my final exams.”
Jakub Patrik:
“Pretty easily, I always wanted to experience learning from the comfort of my room. I pretty much spend most of the time learning, be it for school or for my own interests.”
Dominika Kleinová:
“I consider the passage to online learning to have been quite easy and straightforward. I must admit it was a bit disconcerting to be spending so much time in front of the computer at the beginning (4+ hours a day) but I guess that after around two weeks it became a habit and it does not feel weird at all anymore. We were already used to quite an extensive use of our computers even in our normal classes and most of our homework already took place online so online learning was, for me, more or less just a matter of getting used to spending countless hours every day on the same spot at home.”
Adam Kučera:
“Adapting to the online learning process was not as difficult as I initially thought. Connecting to group calls instead of attending classes can not be simpler.”
2. What do you consider as benefits and drawbacks of distance learning?
Alexia Benaková:
“The main benefit for me is the increased autonomy and efficiency. I don’t have to spend an hour every day commuting, and I have more power to decide what I actually pay attention to. The fact that teachers cannot really control what their students are doing (or if they’re even present) means they have to make the class engaging enough for the student to want to be there. It needs to go both ways though, and I trust that Leaf students understand the benefits of education, and will pay attention when material is interesting.
The downside is the lack of social interaction. Things like discussions, group work or peer feedback become more challenging. Experiential learning is out of the picture. These are crucial parts of our educational process, so it is difficult to work around.”
Jakub Patrik:
“Benefits are uncountable: comfort, flexibility and freedom. On the other hand, some may view it as restricting and lacking in social contact, which is partially true for highly sociable people.”
Dominika Kleinová:
“I think that the benefits of online learning come with the fact that we are spending less time on formalities we would have to do “in real life” and focusing more on essential things. The teachers are trying to make the classes more effective and I think it makes us usually be more productive throughout our online classes than we were before. Also, it gives us more flexibility with our time as we do not have all our classes online but have some of them only as worktime. On the other hand, online learning really limits the amount of interaction that can happen due to one, the complications of the network and two, simply the fact that it is unnatural for us to be speaking to a computer and thus it is not easy for us to get deep into any sort of discussion.”
Adam Kučera:
“The main benefit is that students are free to choose where they want to be during the class. This means we do not need to share one small classroom with 10 or 15 people and we can be comfortable. On the other hand, sometimes it is difficult to focus on the class, since teachers do not usually see you and supervise your work.”
3. How do you perceive the main differences between face-to-face and digital social interactions in education?
Alexia Benaková:
“The biggest difference for me is in the shift to personal responsibility for the students. It’s mostly up to us whether we learn. It has never been easier not to pay attention. And even if you do pay attention, the distance is apparent. Yet it has also never been easier to work on your own terms, and for us introverts who like to study on their own, online learning may be a blessing in disguise.”
Jakub Patrik:
“When online, you are more aware of your visual presentation, meaning you pay more attention to your look because you can constantly see yourself in the camera.”
Dominika Kleinová:
“I mean, I personally think that considering the amount of proactivity that could be expected of us students, the passage towards digital social interactions should not change much. On the other hand, when we look at it a bit more realistically, it is, as I mentioned previously, simply unnatural for us as humans to be speaking to a computer and so it is not as easy to get “personal” with the teachers and students we are supposed to be interacting with online. Digital interactions also sort of slow us down in getting to truly discuss certain things as we are not really capable of just interrupting each other and basically, if that makes sense, I would say that the network is too slow for our thoughts.”
Adam Kučera:
“The main difference is, that one can leave anytime without giving any better reason than “connection issues.”
4. In what way could you imagine distance learning as the successor of traditional education?
Alexia Benaková:
“The few weeks before finals could be a time to explore this method, since it gives us more freedom and efficiency when it comes to organizing our time. Another thing I personally would really appreciate would be periods when we would be free to travel while studying in this way. It could also be useful for those of us who struggle with visa, or have to go home due to unforeseen circumstances.”
Jakub Patrik:
“It should definitely be more promoted than it already is. There are no expenses for the school building and its maintenance and there is pretty much the same environment for learning as in the class. People just need to realize and get used to the online world.”
Dominika Kleinová:
“I think online learning could succeed to traditional education in the fact that it allows us to combat certain obstacles such as distance, sickness, etc. and so it could be quite an easy tool to take advantage of in such cases where one would not be able to physically be present in a class. Also, as I mentioned previously, it allows for quite some flexibility so I guess that classes could take place at less “traditional” times, locations…”
Adam Kučera:
“I think online learning can help teachers connect with their students in case of illness or any other logistical reason. It is very convenient as long as students are engaged.”
