Frustratingly Coping: 2 Years of Stressful Online Classes

   Over the past two years, the COVID-19 pandemic has had serious and far-reaching impacts on the different sectors of society. The pandemic is not merely a health issue - it is also a social and economic disease that continues to plague society. The pandemic led to the closure of businesses and schools, worker layoffs, worsening the poverty situation of the majority of the populace, and deaths of more than six million people globally.

Exactly one year ago today, we held our last traditional face-to-face class. What we thought would just be a 2 to 3-day disruption turned into two years of online classes. Nobody was completely prepared for what was ahead and coping with the new normal was difficult – especially during the first few weeks. While there were quarantine protocols strictly implemented to ensure the safety of the people, it’s still a two-sided coin, especially when the government has no concrete and tireless implementation of containing and effectively managing the pandemic response.

   Two years later and the Philippines is the last country in the world to have yet to open its schools. These three must-have apps helped me survive the past two years of online classes: Facebook Messenger, Canva, and YouTube.

   In my opinion, Facebook Messenger is the most crucial, must-have app for every student (and teacher, too). This was a lifesaver especially before the UPV LMS was developed. Group chats allow teachers and students to collaborate and communicate together. Files, links, messages, can be distributed efficiently, in digital format, in a shorter period.

   The second would be Canva. Even though I still do not consider myself someone good at graphic design, I’m an avid user of Canva. It’s very easy to use and enables you to better prepare the visual graphics of their needed activities for the school. 

   The third app would be YouTube, the online video-sharing and social media platform. When there are concepts or lessons that I couldn’t understand well from my modules, I head to YouTube in hopes of getting a better understanding through other people’s educational vlogs. And these have been extremely helpful for me to survive my semesters.

   Technology has indeed helped make our lives more efficient and convenient. Information can now be accessed with just a single click. However, while technology has become a necessity in this online mode of setup, it remains a luxury for many. Access to technology can be expensive, and this is difficult, especially for families who live on a meager minimum daily wage and for those who have been laid off from their jobs.

   It also makes the learning plane unequal for the students. Those who are financially better off will benefit more from the setup because they have all the means of accessing technology. However, despite this, the online mode of classes is mentally and emotionally tiring for everyone. While others have it worse considering the financial aspect, face-to-face classes, in my opinion, are just more effective when going through a learning process.

References:

Hassan, A. (March 2022). The pandemic's official global toll surpasses 6 million known virus deaths. NY Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/07/world/six-million-covid-deaths.html

World Health Organization. (October 2020). Impact of COVID-19 on people's livelihoods, their health and our food systems. WHO. https://www.who.int/news/item/13-10-2020-impact-of-covid-19-on-people's-livelihoods-their-health-and-our-food-systems

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