Benefits of the Online Learning System

By Irene Lee

Northwood High School

"...it becomes painfully obvious that as of now, social distancing is a must."

Tuesday, July 14, brought an interesting verdict by the Orange County Board of Education – no masks and no social distancing for the coming school year. This decision was reached with a 4-1 consensus via a virtual Zoom meeting, in which the board members presented various reasons why schools should reopen in the fall. They argued that “social distancing… is not necessary and therefore not recommended” due to the apparent low relative risk of K-12 students contracting coronavirus, and that “requiring children to wear masks during school… may even be harmful.” These judgments caused uproar among school districts in OC as well as children and their parents. Not only that, but California’s congressional representatives also demanded an explanation for the board members’ logic when 1,436 cases have been reported for children under 17 as of Tuesday when the decision was reached.

With the U.S. breaking its own records for coronavirus cases daily, it becomes painfully obvious that as of now, social distancing is a must. For the sake of public health, students should stay at home. It is impossible to deny the numerous flaws in the online learning system, including matters of insecure test administration, limited social interaction, and possible setbacks in organizing curriculum into a completely online platform, but with proper management, it can be effective in the coming school year and it won’t risk the health of students and faculty. 

Other than health-related issues, resuming an online program of study in the fall offers a series of other benefits. The flexibility of the system means students can more conveniently easily juggle their schoolwork with their personal lives, including jobs and other commitments. The ease of access that characterizes online learning encompasses not just course materials but transportation costs, as saving gas and mileage can also be helpful in the long run.

Additionally, according to a study completed by North Carolina State University, the “semi-autonomous and self-directed world of the virtual classroom” encourages a more contemporary approach to teaching where students have to utilize their own creativity instead of relying on teachers to provide all necessary work for them. In a world increasingly dominated by technology, students are already experienced in the use of technology to fulfill their everyday needs. Just a little nudge in the right direction should be enough for the tech-savvy generation of today to expand this familiarity into the sphere of education, at least for a brief time while society fights off the pandemic.