Remote Learning: Are Kean students satisfied?

By Valerie Sanabria | Published by November 19, 2020

COVID-19 changed the lives of many people, especially college students after the transition to remote learning. As the Fall 2020 semester progresses, some students are starting to get fatigued and in need of something different while some others are struggling with the workload and anxiety.

“In the beginning I was okay with it, but now I’m getting to a point that is just like I’m getting kind of bored,” said Esther Valdez, a Bilingual education and Spanish major.

Valdez, whose classes are all remote, thinks that all the professors are teaching following the same structure.

“I feel like they are all doing the same thing, just kind of giving the same information,” Valdez said. “I think it’s a lot because for every class you have to do a discussion and respond and do an assignment or two extra, so I feel like it is a lot.”

Leila Salgado, junior majoring in Spanish and education is satisfied with remote education but misses the interaction during face to face classes.

“I think classes in person are much more enjoyable and you also get to interact with new people,” Salgado said. “I feel that I learn more face to face but I can say I am satisfied with remote learning and how my professors have handled teaching through a computer.”

While the overall workload for students is much heavier due to the combination of discussion boards and assignments, Salgado is managing.

“As long as you are keeping up daily with your work you should be fine,” Salgado said.

Special education major, Maria Briceño believes having to do a discussion board every week for every class is unfair. She believes professors do not read what students reply and remote classes are simply not working.

“You go to school to learn, I think this is not working,” Briceño said. “It helps me because I am helping my daughter and I have to stay with her. It’s helping me but not for studying.”

Briceño also thinks that remote education is a scam and unfair because she is not receiving the education she is paying for.

“I pay cash, from my own pocket,” Briceño said, “and I think it’s unfair to pay for something where not even Blackboard is working. It’s hard.”

Another student who thinks tuition should be lowered and is struggling with the workload is Endy Pena, Kean student majoring in Bilingual education.

“I am paying for nothing, the way it is I’m educating myself,” Pena said. “They [Kean] should lower the tuition a little. I have a lot more homework and working virtually in groups is a disaster.”

Kean offered remote and hybrid classes during the Fall 2020 semester and it is extending it for the Spring 2021 semester. Annet Ruiz-Herrera ,who is a transfer student has had the experience of both remote and hybrid classes. For Ruiz-Herrera, face to face classes are more rewarding.

“Personally, I like better in person classes. I learn more, and take better notes,” Ruiz-Herrera said.

Transferring to remote leaning has been hard for many students, but for Valdez it depends on the individual. As the semester progresses some students are just working to get good grades and are worried about the future.

“I feel it’s up to the individual. I actually want to learn for myself,” Valdez said, “but I’m getting to that point in the semester where I’m just doing the work. As long as I do the work I get the grade and I’m worried that the next semester will be the same way.”

For Katherine Calle, senior at Kean, the experience is frustrating because even if she has tried to learn it hasn’t been possible.

“Every day I wake up wanting to learn, I attend every class, take notes, do assignments, answer discussion questions, take exams, and at the end of the day, I feel like I haven’t learned anything,” Calle said. “Even though I appreciate the effort that professors put in everyday to make things easier and get us used to the new normal, my experience is the opposite.”

Calle feels unmotivated and would like to return to campus, but is also struggling with anxiety as a result of remote classes and the idea of going back to what she misses the most– in-person learning.

“I’m tired of remote learning, tired of the many assignments, and the little learning I’ve had this semester,” Calle said, “I want to go back to our previous normal, I will be anxious to be in a classroom with more than 20 people and wear a mask for a 3-hour long lecture. Ironically, what I miss the most about school is also what makes me anxious.”

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