Remote Learning

May 2020

 This month, we asked our writers to reflect on their experiences with their courses after Mount St. Mary's University transitioned to remote learning.

Charge your batteries

Emmy Jansen
Class of 2023

There is something big happening right before our eyes, bigger than we even know. Day to day life is coming to take a different meaning. We are finding new things to fill our waking moments. Every day is a miracle, a new adventure. In some ways, this time is an opportunity we will not get again. It is easy to wonder what we did to get this, both the horrors and hopes in it. It is not an easy question to answer.

Almost every college student across the nation has had to pack up their dorm room and head back home to complete the rest of their semester online. For many pre-collegiate students, this is the same reality. My sister and I find ourselves writing essays, taking tests, and watching lectures in our bedrooms. There have been some benefits, like not having to walk across campus in the cold to get to class on time. But the negatives greatly outnumber the positives. There is much less learning happening now that the classroom has become virtual. In some cases, the professors are more upset than the students and miss the learning they used to see happening before their eyes. Motivation levels decrease as the days go by and when the final grades come out, no one will be surprised if they are not as high as they would be expected to be.

It isn’t that students are lazy or that people are letting their anger prevent them from doing their work; learning, itself, has become a chore. When we are inundated by negative news reports and confined into a single space, our thoughts are on things other than test material. As a friend described to me recently, it’s hard to have the energy to want to learn. In college, most of our classes are on topics we enjoy enough to turn into careers. Unlike high school, we are usually learning what we’re interested in, so it’s hard to lose motivation. This hasn’t been the case in quarantine. With uncertainty being the only thing on the horizon, no one has the energy to spare on what’s happening in the present. All anyone can talk about is when this will end and when we will find "normal" again, while we should be present in the here and now. But it’s easier said than done.

For me, I’ve had an easier time than most of my peers. I stick to a schedule that mimics my life before quarantine and stay dedicated to my work, even if the quality isn’t what it used to be. I’m soaking up time with family that I lose by going to college out of state. I’ve been taking the extra time to learn hobbies I’ve always been interested in and cross things off my to-do list. However, it hasn’t always been easy, and I spend time missing friends and worrying about the future. Mostly, I worry about my professors; I’ve seen them change and the effect the quarantine has had on them, even through the online forms we’ve been reduced to. Even if we don’t contract the virus, all of us are impacted by it in some way. There lies no point in arguing who was more effected and suffered more during this time. The truth is life as we know it is changing and no one knows better than anyone else what will happen next.

While this frightens us, and rightly so, it should also instill in us a sense of solidarity. No matter what unfolds over the next few months, no one is in it alone. The beauty of historic events that touch the lives of everyone is that everyone’s life now has a common thread. Where were you when COVID-19 happened? What were you doing? How did you feel? These will become the stories we share around dinner tables and tell our future descendants, when we’re allowed to be less than six feet apart. So, while we struggle with motivation and constant worry, we should relish in what comes after and all the possibilities that lie there, the good and the bad.

I can say for sure that learning online has taught me a greater appreciation for everything offline. I’ve taken online classes before and I know that nothing can replace the in-class instruction a teacher gives you and the atmosphere the other students help to cultivate. Learning was never meant to be a solo exercise. This is why people have always written their ideas, shared stories, and discussed theories with each other, never alone. However, we seem to be doing the opposite. Our social circles have gotten smaller as we retreat into our houses and connections with companions hardly suffice on video chat. Alone is sometimes all we feel. With loneliness comes sadness, with sadness comes less energy and motivation, which some of us were already lacking. The longer this drags on, the harder it gets.

We all find ourselves using technology more, to keep up with friends, schoolwork, and the global state of things. We remember to put our phones and laptops on the charger before bed, but do we remember to do that with ourselves? These months have been full of new emotions and experiences for all of us. Never before have we been asked to question our lives, morals, and existences like we are now. These are trying times. Some of us may be pushing ourselves too hard, battling the anxiety by keeping ourselves busy and our minds occupied so we don’t think about what’s happening outside the door. Others have the opposite problem, filling their moments with boredom and nothingness. There has to be a balance reached. I like to think of this time as more of an opportunity. We can ask, what did we do to deserve this? But really, what did we get? Forgetting the fear and mayhem, I’ve been given more time with family and the ability to think about things other than school and the future. My sights have been set outward and I’m learning more and more each day about what life should really mean. This is a crisis and a pandemic, yes. But it’s also an opportunity I don’t want to waste.

Read other articles by Emmy Jansen

The hope for now

Harry Scherer
Class of 2022

What is there to say? We are living in a time unlike any other in modern memory. The word "essential" has taken on a new meaning in recent months with an unknown number of families being told to squash their productive instincts out of a concern for a potentially fatal viral infection. Our friends and neighbors transitioned to this quasi-monastic mode of living with us almost overnight, without an eye for an expiration date. Now, more than a month after a national shutdown, we are numb to the news of an unemployment rate shooting to the top of a graph and exploring new territory in numerical history. At the same time, while devastated by the premature deaths of our fellow patriots, we are relieved by the updated models that suggest a considerably smaller mortality rate than the previously disseminated predictions. We are stunned by governmental guidelines and advertisements from multi-national corporations that cry out with a striking Orwellian tone, "Staying apart is the best way to stay united." Our people, and by extension our nation, are asking existential questions about life in the future.

See you on Zoom tomorrow!

The transition from normal college life on our idyllic campus tucked away in the Catoctin Mountains to Zoom University has proved to be one of the most notable experiences of my two years at the Mount. I could not be more thankful for the hard work that my professors put in to transition their comfortable classrooms to accessible online education centers. No one could have expected the gravity of the situation and my professors have stepped up to this unprecedented challenge better than I could have hoped for.

I am blessed to have been surrounded by a supportive and loving group of friends from the moment that I stepped on campus in August of 2018. When the news broke in mid-March that every student would be sent home for at least two weeks, some of us were taking the, at the time, liberal view that we would more likely be returning after Easter. Now, colleges and universities across the country have transitioned to online learning for the rest of the semester, with almost all planning for the unknown in the fall. All of my friends and I were hesitant about leaving campus for an undetermined amount of time, with some beginning to accept the notion that we would not be seeing each other until the fall.

The one saving grace for this quick separation has been the technology that kept us together even while we did not need it. My friends and I continue to celebrate each other’s birthdays, ensure prayers for deceased loved ones and share what has been going on in our homes. To put it another way, we have been trying to maintain some normalcy during this strange time.

My family, with whom I spent all of the shutdown, has been as loving and caring to me as they always have been. I do not think that we have ever spent so much uninterrupted time together, which has silently taught us some valuable lessons throughout this prolonged period of quarantined existence. We have learned the importance of giving each other space and anticipating and cherishing the time spent together, especially at meals. A balance had to be struck at the beginning of the transition between my usual work habits as a college student and the new milieu of an at-home undergraduate workload.

The exhaustive list of reasons for which I leave my home consists of the desire to take a walk, go to the grocery store or pick up a pizza. I have never considered the action of taking a walk as essential to life as food and water. I am unsure whether my body has ever been this inactive in my entire life, including the period of infancy during which I was unable to walk. I marvel at the existence of other human beings when I go to the grocery store. My fellow store patrons, or ration gatherers as I have begun to refer to them, and I acknowledge one another’s existence either with a meaningful nod, one that screams, "when is this going to be over?" or with a seemingly intentional lack of acknowledgment out of a concern that the virus can spread through momentary eye contact. A third alternative to this mode of communication is a brief death stare followed by quickly darted eyes that meet the food in their cart, seemingly motivated by their disgust for my apparent desire to spread the virus, from which I have not been infected, to every person with whom I come in contact because of my willful obstinacy against unenforceable state suggestions to wear a mask.

Even in the midst of the death and dying and strange cultural developments, I find comfort in my belief that immense good is going to come from this shared deprivation and isolation. The greatest generation came about from a common acceptance of severe economic and personal suffering in the Great Depression and the two world wars that surrounded it. While I believe our generation has been poorly prepared for this crisis, we have the potential to develop a similar resistance to the fragility that our culture has paradoxically challenged us to accept. This crisis of solitude has proven that our attempts at communicating digitally, while wholly pragmatic, are unsustainable for long-term social existence. Because we are social animals who yearn to know and love each other, we demand physically proximate social relationships. Perhaps after this is all over and we return back to our lives, we return with a new vision for social interaction. Will a taboo against the use of technological devices in social settings develop? It is my hope that we grasp the ability that we, as individuals, have right now to make the best out of this pandemic and to anticipate the day that we all can greet each other with a warm handshake, or maybe a loving hug, lest we become silent victims of the sickness that has already damaged so many.

Read other articles by Harry Scherer

It’s not the end

Angela Guiao
Class of 2021

I heard someone say it is the end of the world.

Some would say that’s a little dramatic. But I can’t blame some for thinking that. In 2020 alone, there were the bushfires in Australia, the volcanic ash explosion in Taal, and now, the COVID-19 pandemic that is spreading across the world. And it’s only May. I can completely see how so many terrible things happening within such a short amount of time may seem like the beginning of the end.

But I refuse to believe it is the end.

I think it is during times like these that it is especially important to look for the silver lining. It is easy to feel defeated. It is easy to feel hopeless and uncertain and unhappy. When so much in life is changing beyond your control, it is easy to feel disoriented and shocked. And rightfully so. There are things happening to some of us now that make it very hard to see any good. Millions of people have lost their jobs. Some are draining their savings in order to support their families. Others aren’t able to pay rent or make car payments. There are those who are just trying to make ends meet.

For me, my family has been blessed enough to be able to continue working. And while I am eternally grateful that we are not worrying about finances, I am constantly worrying about everything else. My mother is in her 50’s. She was diagnosed with diabetes when I was a Junior in high school. And since then she has implemented a lifestyle change that if she had not pursued, would have left her blind. I’ve worked hard throughout school so that one day she may stop working, but I haven’t reached that point yet. So now I worry. I worry because according to the articles and news outlets, those with underlying diseases are at risk. And she is all I have.

So, in short, I understand the stress. I understand how sometimes the worry can get overwhelming. How difficult it may be sometimes to see the light in such opaque darkness. But I believe it is important to see the good. Because it is the good that keeps us going. I’ve found good in the little things, the simple things. And though they may be small, they take my mind of all the scary things that are happening. They bring me happiness.

Since the pandemic, I’ve suddenly been able to wake up late. Not as late as I’d like to, however, because my little sister wakes up at 8:30 am every morning and I am the one who has to make her breakfast.

Since the pandemic, I’ve been able to spend more time with her though. And for that I am grateful. However, I wish she would listen to something other than baby songs. I don’t know how much more I can take.

Since the pandemic, I’ve gotten pretty sick of technology. It was great after a few weeks. But now, I want to do anything and everything except stare at a screen. And since I’ve stopped, I’ve begun to listen. I listen to my mom’s stories. The same ones I’ve heard a thousand times before but are still pretty funny. I listen to the cars and the trucks and the people outside my window. I realized there was so much I drowned out, and I feel like I’m just beginning to actually see the world again.

Since the pandemic, I’ve realized how fast I was moving. Normally, I was always in a rush. A rush to get to school then to class then out of class. A rush to get home. A rush to eat or get to work. I never had any time to relax. I never took the time to enjoy.

Since the pandemic, I’ve been able to catch up on schoolwork. This semester has already been pretty crazy for me even without the natural disasters that have been happening. So much was going on, and there was so many things I needed to be on track with that I wasn’t able to put my entire focus on school. But I’ve slowly been catching up, and I am proud to say that I am 75% closer to getting my life together.

Since the pandemic, I’ve realized how quickly things can change. And so, I decided not to waste any more time. I tell my mom I love her, even when she is getting a little too naggy. And I let my little sister feed me Cheetos drenched in orange juice even if does taste absolutely disgusting. I’ve decided to let it be. Because when my mom isn’t around to nag me anymore or when my sister gets older and decides not to bug me anymore, I know I’ll miss it. So, I’ve decided to appreciate the moments I have and to enjoy them.

These all may seem like terribly small and insignificant things. And in some ways, they are. But these are all things I would not have even noticed had this pandemic not have happened. I wouldn’t have realized how much I am missing, or how much I care about the things I am missing. I wouldn’t have realized the opportunity I’ve been given. The opportunity to better myself and to realize my shortcomings. The most important thing this pandemic has given me is time. Time with my family, time to pay attention, time to think about the things I want to do and time to do them.

I hope everyone can find their silver lining. During these times, I pray for the safety and good health of all peoples. I hope everyone finds happiness in the little things and appreciates the time they have been given. I pray for all who are undergoing hardships and struggles and wish for prosperity and abundance to come to them.

I heard someone say that it is the end of the world.

But to quote John Lennon: "Everything is will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end."

It’s not the end.

Read other articles by Angela Guiao

A new normal

Morgan Rooney
Class of 2020

Nearly four years ago, when I started my higher education at the Mount, I pictured the day I would finally finish and earn my degree. I looked forward to going to senior formal, senior banquet and walking across the stage when my name would be announced. I had friends and family who had already spent hundreds on their airline tickets to congratulate me and celebrate with me. There was a family celebration planned on the day of graduation with my favorite meal to celebrate my many years of hard work. Little did I know that all of that would change so quickly.

Mount St. Mary’s University has confirmed that there will definitely be a commencement ceremony when it is safe to do so, however, the date of this event has yet to be determined. Regardless, I am excited for that day to come and I’m glad that my senior class and I won’t be deprived of such an exciting and well-earned event.

While there is only a couple weeks of classes left until I complete my courses, I am heartbroken that I don’t know when I will be able to celebrate my accomplishments. I wish I knew that my last day at the Mount would have been my last. I understand now why people say, "live every day is if it was your last," – on a less serious note of course.

On top of all of this disappointing news, all students at the Mount transitioned to online, remote learning. While I feel as if certain things about an in-person class are missing, I think remote classes have been working fairly well. Certain classes have more work while others have less than before, so in the end the workload mostly balances out.

Classes have been much different since we haven’t been able to meet in person. The biggest difference in my classes has been that we are unable to meet for rehearsal in my string ensemble, therefore all performances and rehearsals have been cancelled for the remainder of the semester. This has been the most disappointing change for me. Certain classes have given out reading assignments online with questions to answer. Other classes consist mostly of writing assignments such as essays. I’ve had professors do recorded lectures and even a few conferences. While the video conferences were awkward at first, I’ve warmed up to them and I think that they have worked fairly well so far. While none of us originally signed up for online courses, I think the transition has gone well.

I really appreciate being able to do my assignments on my own time. As someone who is not the most productive in the morning, being about to work on my in class assignments in the evening or at night has been helpful for me. I spent a few days clearing out the spare room at home, painting it and making it into a home office that I can comfortably do my work in with no distractions. I’m proud of how everything turn out and I look forward to hanging up my degree over my desk once I receive it. I think I’ve been fairly productive while everything has been locked down.

This change of plans has brought about a few challenges. Because I am in a different time zone, the first few weeks were confusing. The website that we use for our assignments did not automatically transition to my computer’s new time zone and I turned in a few assignments and hour late. I also find that it is more difficult to keep organized with due dates. Fortunately, all of my professors have been extremely accommodating and understanding. I feel as if I am adapting to remote learning well despite the few downsides.

I am grateful that this is happening during a time when we have the technology available to do remote learning. This way, I don’t feel like I am losing any time when it comes to earning my degree that I have worked so hard for for many years. Things are just concluding in a different way which I’ve learned to accept.

Working on the Emmitsburg News-Journal in addition to my courses and searching for jobs has taken up most of my time and kept me busy. Day by day, I am finding myself less annoyed by this situation and instead embracing it as a time to improve and better myself. I’ve spent more time working, exercising, eating better food and managing my stress better. I’ve even picked up a few hobbies that I haven’t done in a while. I like to think of this time as one to take a step back from all the hecticness in life and ready myself for what comes next.

This isn’t to say, however, that I don’t look forward to when this is all over and I can begin making plans again. As social beings, I believe that a healthy social life is important to thrive (when it is safe to do so). I’ve have so much time to think about what comes next. I want to be able to see my friends again and get to the "real world" as I would call it. I’ve spent the past 17 years of my life going to school and learning each day. I think it would be fair to say that this month will be the biggest milestone in my life (so far). While there’s been a few hiccups along the way, sometimes that’s what keeps life interesting, even if it doesn’t always go our way.

While this is a very unexpected and not an ideal way of ending my college career, it is what it is. I am definitely appreciating the little things that are happening. I look forward to receiving my cap and gown so I can take photos and celebrate with my family. I’m looking forward to framing and hanging my degree above my desk. Most of all, I’m looking forward to a time when things become a little more normal.

Read other articles by Morgan Rooney

Read Past Editions of Four Years at the Mount