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The Transition to Online Learning

April 2, 2020/in header, Latest News, News /by Alexandra Antonucci

Honor society inductions, classes, school plays and spending time with friends: little things that most college students usually take for granted but are unable to enjoy due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

On March 16, Saint Peter’s University, a private college on JFK. Blvd. in Jersey City, suspended its face-to-face classes through the rest of the spring semester and permanently closed its residence halls on March 24. Only students under extenuating circumstances are allowed to stay.

For Matthew Goodman, a sophomore majoring in mathematics and minoring in secondary education, the transition has been bumpy. One problem has been motivation.

“… I feel less motivated working from home,” the Hoboken native said. “I need to be in a classroom to be engaged and to grasp the material properly.

Goodman also laments the one-way nature of virtual classrooms.  Students and teachers don’t get to interact; students can’t get questions answered in real time.

“I can’t just read math and understand it. I need it taught to me so that I can fully understand it and grasp the material,” Goodman explained.

But at least Goodman’s classes take place during the day. Marta Ortega, a Saint Peter’s international student from Spain, does not have that luxury.

“I had to go back to Spain, so now I’m six hours ahead,” said Ortega, an international business major. “This makes it very complicated because one of my courses finishes at 3 a.m. I understand online courses are the only way to continue during this pandemic, but I strongly think it can be done differently.”

Saint Peter’s is not the only school that has been shut down due to COVID-19. On March 16, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy ordered the closure of all public and private schools across the Garden State.

The way online classes are taught varies greatly, depending mostly on the professor. Some use online video chatting software such as Zoom or Google Hangouts, while others prefer to post assignments electronically.  Blackboard, a digital platform where professors can upload assignments, quizzes and discussion boards, is often used.

According to Goodman, three of his professors used Google Meet once but may not continue to use it all the time; a fourth professor posted a lesson using Microsoft PowerPoint; and yet another professor videotaped himself lecturing and uploaded that.

On March 25, Saint Peter’s extended its spring semester deadlines for dropping courses with no repercussions and for converting courses from letter grading to pass/fail. Kean University in Union, NJ went one step further: It decided to let students choose the pass/fail option on up to two courses after grades from all courses are posted the end of the semester. Kean’s administration decided this in response to a petition the students had circulated on Change.org that garnered over 3,000 signatures.

As Goodman finishes up his courses off campus, he hopes the coronavirus pandemic will show St. Peters’ administration that, as a matter of course, professors need to receive more training on using online resources so they’re better able to handle crises like the coronavirus pandemic in the future.

“A lot of [my professors] had to learn on their own how to fully use Blackboard, Google Meet and other platforms. I feel that this should be taught to all faculty members,” he said. “We need to be prepared for anything.”

 

Header: Photo by Alexandra Antonucci

Tags: Coronavirus, Covid-19, Online Learning, Saint Peter’s University
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News Briefs

Mayor Steven Fulop and the Jersey City Economic Development Corporation (JCEDC) have launched the latest round of emergency funding to provide over $2.5 million in direct aid and support to Jersey City’s neediest residents, regardless of immigration status. The city will partner with  York Street, Women Rising, United Way, and Puertorriqueños Asociados for Community Organization (PACO). 

Darius Evans, age 45, of Jersey City was arrested  on Monday by The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office in connection with the stabbing death of 39-year-old Tyrone Haskins early New Year’s morning. The charges include Murder and two counts of Possession of a Weapon for Unlawful Purposes.

Mayor Steven Fulop is joining forces with Uber to announce a new agreement that will expand residents’ access to COVID-19 vaccinations with free Uber rides to and from Jersey City vaccination sites. Phase 1B includes essential frontline workers and seniors 75 years old and over.

According to a report in the Jersey Journal, Jersey City received its first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines Monday and plans to begin vaccinating eligible residents later this week at the Mary McLeod Bethune Center.

The federal Paycheck Protection Program, which offers businesses loans that can be forgivable, reopened on January 11th. The revised program focuses first on underserved borrowers – minority- and women-owned businesses.

Jersey Art Exchange (JAX) has merged with Art House Productions effective January 2021 to help improve and expand arts education and opportunities for the Jersey City community. JAX Founder Jacqueline Arias will remain Director of the program at Art House.

Christmas trees will be collected citywide every Wednesday night throughout the month of January. Pickup resumes this Wednesday January 13th.

Keep abreast of Jersey City Covid-19 statistics here.

Governor Murphy has launched a “Covid Transparency Website” where New Jerseyans can track state expenditures related to Covid.  Go here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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