Arizona State University has announced all in-person classes will be held online and will be conducted through Zoom for the rest of the spring semester.
ASU President Michael Crow sent out an email to students explaining precautions the university has taken in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 on Monday.
“Although this shift in learning has been extended, the university continues to remain open. This includes computer labs, libraries, food service, health clinics, counseling services, research labs and all other aspects of the university,” Crow announced.
In a video posted on the same day, Crow said ASU wants to provide students the opportunity to continue their learning experiences.
“We really see this as a complicated moment,” Crow said. “We see this as a moment in which we want to really stay focused and really keep our energy focused on all of this.”
As students and faculty are adjusting to their new learning environments, some see this change to be difficult, while others have quickly adapted.
Rian Bosse, who teaches a multimedia journalism class, said that the biggest concern is being able to give the same level of instruction online as he would in person.
“There’s no question that there’s a challenge,” Bosse said. “But we’re sharing ideas as instructors. Not only just ideas, but people are pulling together their own resources.”
With many students worried about life outside of school, Bosse tries to keep his students engaged, he said he lets his students go off topic during class, such as showing the class their pets or freely talking about what they want to lighten the mood.
“Honestly, I just needed to have some fun too,” Bosse said. “To have something to smile and laugh about.”
While some students like Kiyanna Cortez have said the transition has been OK for her, other students have already expressed that the shift from in-person to online education challenges students’ abilities to learn in an online environment without the same in-person resources.
Multiple students have petitioned for professors to change the grading system. One petition proposes that professors curve grades while another proposes a pass or fail grading system.
Students at Penn State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have also petitioned for a pass/fail grade system.
“This has the propensity to affect vulnerable peoples’ grades tremendously for students who don’t have a quiet home, wifi or a computer with both a camera and a microphone,” said Jillian Joiner, a junior. “Their grade will be completely vulnerable.”
Students are also struggling to focus during online classes coming back from spring break.
“It is definitely hard getting out of spring break mode,” said Beau Bright, a junior. “It really just feels like spring break is extended,”
Because professors can’t see everything in the student’s surroundings, it’s easier for students to use their phones or succumb to other distractions during class.
“It is difficult because I’m in my own home and there are other people and my dog here,” Joiner said. “I can also adjust the camera and lighting so my professor can’t tell if I’m looking at my phone.”
Although students are surrounded by distractions, it’s up to them to avoid letting it be an impedance to their grades.
“Sure we have more distractions online, but you can be just as distracted in person,” Bright said. “It’s up to students to pay attention no matter what the environment.”
ASU has not announced if it will be curving grades or implicating or a pass or fail grading system this semester.
Contact the reporter at kbcole5@asu.edu and wlopezde@asu.edu
