Education & The Pandemic: The Silver Linings of Remote Learning

By Willow Carmount, ELI Programs Assistant

It’s hard to imagine that more than a year ago, university and college campuses closed their doors due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Students and staff alike were forced into a remote learning and working situation, a predicament unfamiliar and anxiety-inducing to many. Staple features of post-secondary education, such as sipping coffee in a lecture hall and late night study sessions in the library became things of the past. We were all left to wonder what redefining education and it’s accompanying experiences would look like. Although this past year has come with a plethora of challenges, and the process of redefining is continuous, remote learning has benefited students in a variety of meaningful ways. 

The flexibility in regards to time and location that remote learning offers is precious to many students, especially those studying away from home. Maria Vergara Murillo, a recent Bridge to Academic Success in English (BASE) graduate and recent BASE Student Engagement Award recipient, feels thankful for the newfound control she has over the way she learns.

“I think that I enjoy staying home… We are the boss of our own time and we decide when we do things," Vergara Murrilo shared. "We have all the time to do what we want. We can also wake up later which I really love. Also for me as an international student, I really appreciate being able to stay with my family, in my house where I feel comfortable in my own space. I really love that part of online learning.”

For those who were attending post-secondary within the geographical proximity of their loved ones, this benefit may have never been considered. However, for many international students such as Maria, remote learning has given them the freedom to continue to live and spend time with their loved ones as they acquire their education, something that would be impossible from a different country. 

In a world where globalization and the integration of technology into everyday life is rapidly increasing, technological proficiency is becoming less of an asset and more of a necessity for students across the globe. Yao (Jenny) Zhou, a second-year Environment, Resources, and Sustainability student and graduate of Renison's iBASE program, feels online learning has provided her with the exact circumstances needed to improve her technology skills.

“Studying online has helped me to get better at using all the functions of a computer, and I know more about virtual meeting formats,” said Zhou.

Due to the temporary obsoletion of in-person learning, students and staff alike have been put in positions where it is imperative for their technological proficiency to increase, and out of necessity it has. 

For many students, online learning alleviates the pressures and distractions that they encounter in a classroom. Angel Pinzon Tunon, a recent BASE graduate, is one of many students who has felt more comfortable learning from home.

“I like online quizzes the most for several reasons, but I guess that if I have to mention some other reasons, I would say that one of the most important ones is that you feel less pressure," Pinzon Tunon shared. "When you are doing a quiz alone, you do not feel that anxiety of being in a classroom where everyone is finishing quick, but you are stuck, that can make me feel quite anxious, to be honest.”

The great thing about learning from home is that there are no students around to compare yourself to, which allows you to work and learn at your own pace. 

In a time when feelings of loneliness and isolation are far from uncommon, students are coping through the development of international communities. Hoi Dick (Curtis) Lai, another recent BASE graduate, feels as if online learning has allowed his friendships to surpass physical borders.

“Online learning allows me to make a lot of different friends around the world with more flexible time,” Lai said.

From social media to virtual study groups to online events, students living in countries all across the globe are able to make connections and bond over shared circumstances. 

There is no denying that the COVID-19 pandemic is overall tragic and life altering, but in all bad things there can be hope in silver linings. Among all the uncertainties of this pandemic, one thing remains true: the community and bond created amongst students and staff by sharing in this unprecedented experience has created a foundation for us all to grow, learn, and support one another. Whatever this pandemic holds for each of us as students and staff, we know that we are not facing that alone, which is a truly powerful feeling.