So today we had our first online lecture conference call due to the spreading of the coronavirus!
At first it took some getting used to as I was technically in class but in the comfort of my own room. The setup was extremely easy, all you have to do is download the application then click the link sent out by your professor. When all was said and done I would almost say it is an easier way to have lectures in general.
During the lecture it causes students to be more responsible with their interactions because you are isolated from face-to-face interaction and when you speak everyone in the whole conference call can hear you. However, because you are in your own familiar space distractions can still occur so there are a variety of pros and cons. But the main pro that I liked more than regular lectures is the screen share option that our fellow classmates used for their individual presentations. Having a screen share option is great because obviously everyone knows how to navigate their own computers and laptops with ease and they are already logged in. This saves so much time when it comes to logging in and out of the main computer in a class that has only one computer hooked up to the projector system.
The main, most important pro I would say is that because you can access your lecture now from a remote location (or wherever there is wifi) it makes students more comfortable learning. Students can wear their comfy PJs and relax in their bed if they want to and still retain the valuable information being shared.
The main con I would like to point out is that I do not believe Zoom would be a valuable option for grade schools, especially at the elementary level. This is because not everyone has a computer, let alone a laptop, and students in elementary and middle years do not have the motor skills, knowledge, or attention span to operate something of this caliber. Most importantly, half of an elementary teachers’ job is to keep students on task and provide individual help where needed. From my current knowledge on Zoom, I did not see a way to individual help a student without doing it in front of everyone on the conference call. Therefore, students would be getting singled out quite a lot. Also it just deteriorates from the use of manipulatives and basic reading and writing skills students need to learn and understand through the use of doing things the old fashioned way instead of online.
To conclude, I believe Zoom conference calls are a great and in some cases superior form of listening to lectures than that of face-to-face lectures. However, for implementing them in to grade schools I think it would completely defeat the point of schooling as they are still learning the basics and are actually learning and retaining information. Whereas in university many courses are set up for students to take notes, and the regurgitate the information via exams, labs, or papers making conference calls completely viable.
Riley
