Coronavirus has forced people worldwide to create extraordinary solutions, but students have had to perform the impossible, using virtual and even socially distanced learning to work through extraordinary circumstances! Aside from their workload and long days of classes, living through such an unusual time has put a lot of pressure on students’ mental and physical health. During such an important period in their lives, it is essential for steps to be taken to improve their impacted health and academics.
Schools have had to adapt their teaching methods constantly as social distancing protocols change. When schools had to close and move entirely to remote learning, it was difficult for the teachers to sort out their curriculum and for the students to access or understand technology. Using technology constantly, with little movement and face-to-face interaction, was a huge detriment to the students’ well-being. Later on, as many students transitioned back to in-person learning, following COVID requirements and readjusting to the unstable learning environment was a new challenge for students’ abilities to focus.
Aside from the challenges of surviving the global pandemic itself, learning in an unusual space has been its own challenge. Many students have experienced loneliness, a lack of focus, increased stress, and a general decline in mental health. About 56% of young adults reported symptoms of anxiety or depression over the past year. The incorporation of in-person learning has had a positive impact, but excessive screen time and social distancing requirements have made it more difficult to socialize with one another and interact with their teachers as well.
Although a majority of students usually participate in some form of physical activity, online learning from home and lockdown has made it difficult for students to move as much as during a regular school day. In addition, limitation of intramural sporting events and school sports has made it harder for students to both socialize outside of classes and engage in a healthy amount of physical activity. As restrictions are lifted in many places, there are increasing opportunities for students to exercise, but social distancing and rescheduling are only a few of the obstacles standing in their way.
There have been many difficulties for students working through these unprecedented times, but they have been working to overcome the hurdles in their way and create new forms of learning, like Zoom and Google Meets. Students and teachers alike have been working towards improvement that has been necessary since before the pandemic. As the world continues to deal with the effects of the coronavirus, students will continue to be impacted negatively but there will also definitely be positive changes for students around the world as well.
Written By : Emma Schlosser
