As we all know, UW continued the hybrid instruction this semester, and I am not a fan. I know they’re trying to make more classes in person with the ‘flux classes,’ but I don’t think it’s the right approach. I have two classes offered in-person this semester, one is a language class and the other is an English class, and they both use this method. In my Spanish class, we have 7 students that come in person – everyone else is on zoom and projected on the screen. The students on zoom can usually only hear the instructor since they are close to the microphone and can barely hear if a student in class speaks. This slows down the rate at which students learn. We always have to repeat information to those on zoom. It wouldn’t be fair to ask everyone to come to class because some people are out of state, but it would be a much better learning environment even if we are all six feet apart. Part of me wishes we were all online instead of having these semi-in-person classes. What’s the point of coming to campus for a few months then going back online for over a month at the end of the semester? We might as well just be all online.
I would love to go to in-person classes when I can actually sit next to other people and not have to wear a mask. I miss social interaction the most. Now that everything is mostly online, it’s difficult to meet people. That’s the point of college; getting to know different kinds of people. This semester (and last) has been so isolating, and it’s hard to imagine what college will look like going forward. UW sent out an email about having most classes in person next year, which is good news, but I don’t think it’ll ever get back to normal. At least not in my college career. I loved college my freshman year because I met such good people. I was experiencing life in a new state and I was exploring my degree options. This year took a lot of that away, and it’s sad this isn’t how college is supposed to be. I sincerely hope we get to experience some degree of normalcy next year. That’s my mini-rant.