Finding the Silver Lining in Online Classes
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The recent switch to online classes has certainly created challenges. Despite these hardships, students and professors at Elon University have found surprising silver linings that put a pause on the crazy climate we are currently living in.
Online classes do not have to symbolize sadness and despair. Yes, you are not sitting in class surrounded by your peers sipping a latte from Oak House, but Elon is not giving up, so neither should you.
Journalism professor Kelly Furnas was quick to point out the benefits of this situation.
“What's impressed me so much about the past couple of weeks has been the amazing level of flexibility from faculty and students who have never done something like this before,” Furnas said. “It's been very humanizing, I think, to see how we've all tried to adapt, where we've excelled and where we've stumbled.”
Support from the Elon community is another component Furnas believes is playing a role in easing the difficulties.
“I've just seen the Elon family be very forgiving and very flexible when things don't go perfectly,” Furnas said.
Senior Bridget Turner agrees that flexibility has helped her these past few weeks.
“Professors have been more accommodating,” Turner said. “My two big projects got revised and broken up into simpler assignments.”
In addition to syllabus adjustments, Turner said her professors are very receptive to student’s comments.
“My teacher has been asking us to give feedback on anything that we’re struggling with and would prefer.”
Senior Emily Sheridan said she feels that Elon is doing its best to assist everyone during this time.
“I’ve loved how sincere and accommodating professors have been,” Sheridan said. “They’ve acknowledged our hardships and understood what we’re facing and showed empathy, specifically toward the senior class.”
Sheridan said this experience has helped her appreciate her professors even more.
“This all solidified for me that Elon professors really care about student success,” Sheridan said.
Elon finance professor Chris Baker said he feels very appreciated by her students during this time.
“I start the day with an email, and it’s amazing how many students have said thank you for caring and thanked me for sending the emails every day,” Baker said. “That made me feel good. And some students have called and texted, and it’s nice to be able to connect with those students.”
Baker is creating video recordings of her lectures that students can watch at their leisure. While she’s found making those videos is more time consuming than in-class lessons, she said she is willing to put in the time since her students find them helpful.
“I come from a corporate world, so I know the topics we need to cover. And that might take me 15 minutes, but what I’m doing now is taking hours,” Baker said. “But the students have been very appreciative of the videos, and that certainly makes it worthwhile and I’ll keep doing them.”
Journalism professor Brooks Fuller has realized during this time how united the Elon community is.
“I’ve only been here a year and a half, but I’ve come to realize how closely connected people are,” Fuller said. “People are trying to find new ways to achieve what Elon has been achieving for decades, and I’ve been happy with some of what I’ve seen. It’s something we work hard and struggle mightily for, and we need to keep up the struggle because it’s an important one.”