As the numbers of Coronavirus cases began to drop in New York,  schools began to open up in person learning once again.  Once we students knew we could “return to learn,” we all breathed a sigh of relief. Over the last few months, everyone has grown to appreciate and realize how much we really had.  I know I never really appreciated how much I enjoy and need to be in school until I no longer had that opportunity. Being able to see our teachers and have a real conversation with them is amazing.  Even though it isn’t the same as before March of 2020, it will get better.

Now that the initial excitement over school reopening has passed, it’s time to think about the real advantages and disadvantages of hybrid learning. Personally, I have mixed feelings about hybrid learning.  Sometimes, I want to be in school and ask a question without unmuting.  Other times I wish I could be in a sweatshirt and sweatpants in my comfy room. 

Most of the disadvantages are due to technical issues. In the first few months of school, I found many problems when trying to log in from home.  Many students have been disconnected in the middle of a meet due to a bad WiFi connection. It’s rare to attend a class where you don’t see a “Hey!! Sorry I’m late! My internet was acting up!” comment in the chat, or hear another student speak up and say, “Just so you know, Johnny can’t get into the Meet.”  Even though WiFi is a problem, the biggest problem I have is focusing on what the teacher is saying when my phone is a few feet away from me.  I check in on my phone frequently, which makes the situation worse because I have access to social media, and we all know how time passes faster on social media.  To combat this issue, I’ve made a plan: Once I check-in, I throw my phone near my bed.  Speaking of checking in, the Infinite Campus check-in can be another small, yet irritating issue. Sometimes I forget and once class ends I remember, but it’s too late.  I set timers on my phone to help me, but I sometimes forget to get off my phone. 

However, not every part of learning from home is miserable. Waking up to a timer five minutes before class is so much easier than waking up an hour earlier to go to school.  When you wake up at home, you can always log in with what you woke up in.  I love wearing comfy clothes and at home, I can wear them all day.  I also get the opportunity to log out of classes a few minutes early (if a teacher allows it), which means I have time to take a moment away from a screen. This doesn’t always happen when learning in school. Another positive is that I can do work at my own pace in many of my classes. Sometimes, my teacher will explain a concept and then let us work independently to finish it. I can get some work done faster if I’m not waiting for peers to finish, or being distracted by other kids in the class like I would if I were physically present.

Now when it comes to learning at school, there are the obvious advantages and disadvantages we’ve known for all of our lives. Waking up at 6:30AM in the morning to get ready for school is always annoying, but it is always worth it.  When going to school, I like seeing my friends and talking to them.  It is so fun to actually see them in person instead of through a screen.  I also like being able to have an actual conversation with a teacher in school.  The classes seem easier to understand in school because everything is being taught how we have seen it for years.  Participating in school also seems earlier instead of unmuting your mic to say an answer.  The precautions at school are very necessary, but can sometimes be annoying.  Masks are hard to speak through and sometimes your words get caught in them.  

Many students are now appreciating being in school even if it’s only for two days.  Last year, a typical school day might seem dreadful, but finally being able to be inside the school is now a relief.  School is different, but it is better than being at home every day.  We all hope this year gets better and opportunities in school start coming up more often.  While I’ve learned how to make hybrid learning work for me, I hope soon everyone will be in school full time.