Q: What does your typical school day look like?

It's 100% online. Zoom lectures a lot, we use a platform called Canvas. That's how I keep track of assignments and Zoom links and things like that.

Q: On each day how many hours on average are you going in for your Zoom meetings, lectures, and homework?

It's about two to three hours of lecture a day and then two hours of working on assignments.

Q: Do you find it a little more taxing now that it’s all online?

I do find it more taxing, that's a good question. It almost feels like I'm at a desk, working a 9 to 5 instead of you know being in university around people. It's nice to get a change of scenery or go wherever when I was on campus, so now it kind of feels like a really disorganized big grind. It's hard to keep track of due dates so it's been tough yeah.

Q: I understand right now you said that it seems like you're working a 9 to 5, do you think school is a little more difficult since you are doing everything all from one space?

Yeah, I do, and I think that there is something to be said about getting a change of scenery and being able to have a change of pace. Just being stuck in one place is kind of demotivating.

"Like I'm at a desk, working a 9 to 5 instead of you know being in university around people. It's nice to get a change of scenery or go wherever when I was on campus, so now it kind of feels like a really disorganized big grind. It's hard to keep track of due dates so it's been tough yeah." "Just being stuck in one place is kind of demotivating."

Q: Do you find your online lectures at all understandable and engaging?

Not nearly as engaging as they used to be in person. I think it's really easy to get distracted, really easy to open up another tab on the computer and start scrolling on Facebook or Twitter because no one's really holding you accountable. I mean I know you can do that in a lecture hall too, but online, it seems a lot less serious and a lot less engaging.

Q: Can you explain how your classes are formatted when you have your Zoom meetings?

So most of them begin with kind of an overview of what we're talking about and then from that, they begin to lecture. The class is about an hour and 15 minutes, but they usually lecture about, I guess it changes from class to class… Usually about a 45-minute lecture and then you do some sort of group activity where we got into breakout rooms within Zoom and then come back for the last 15 minutes of class.

Q: Can you tell me about the breakout rooms?

So usually there's some sort of in-class activity that needs to be done and they're probably trying to keep that collaboration aspect going. So they separate us into breakout rooms of about 3-5 people per room, and it's pretty seamless really. We kind of just get pulled out of the main meeting and it's pretty automatic. But yeah it's weird though because some kids don't want to have their cameras on. I feel like there's not as much communication than I'm used to in-person. In these breakout rooms, I don't know if people are less comfortable talking with technology or what but yeah it's just not the same.

Q: Most people have this idea of what college is supposed to be like, now that everything's online, how has this college experience changed for you?

I don’t actually live on campus and I haven't for a couple years so it's not like I'm really missing out on a big party scene or anything. But I do miss that in-person contact and meeting new people in classes and whereas I do meet new people in my current classes, it just doesn't feel nearly as personal.

"I think it's really easy to get distracted, really easy to open up another tab on the computer and start scrolling on Facebook or Twitter because no one's really holding you accountable."

Q: Do you currently feel that you are responsible for learning everything on your own?

I wouldn't say that but I would say there is something about being in a desk at a different location than in your bedroom. I don't know if I focus more, but I think I do when I'm fully dressed in a more professional setting. I mean I still learn, I don't feel like I have to do everything on my own. It's just different.

Q: As far as your assignments and tests go, have your teachers said anything as far as no open notes and no Googling answers?

Yeah they have, they definitely have. It's almost that they know it's expected right now, that's what it feels like to me, but it definitely says in the syllabus you know not to cheat on tests or anything. But my teachers didn't really say much about it. Some say ‘don't use your notes’ but I mean what do they expect when everybody's at home and no one is being held accountable.

Q: Have your professors changed the grading scale?

I know some other students have told me their professors made the grading scale a little more difficult. No, not at all for me thankfully. In fact, I had an issue where I missed an assignment and I had a teacher who I’ve taken before, who was harsher before, cut me a little slack. So it's been kind of the opposite for me, a little bit more leeway seems like.

Q: Is there anything that your teachers have done to help you out during this time?

There's nothing really. There's nothing really that I wish they would do or that I need them to do just because I don't really know what they could do. I guess I would ask that they be slightly more understanding and generous if something does happen as far as forgetting about something or things like that. I know I'm getting overwhelmed with all of my classes being online. You just kind of forget about things you know?