As students at Spring Hill College adjust to being home with their families for the rest of 
the semester, they must also adjust to online classes which began Monday, March 30. 
President of Spring Hill, Joe Lee, announced on Friday, March 27 that the school will
continue its online education throughout the rest of the school year. He stated, “This decision
was made after continuous discussions with College administration as well as with health
experts in Alabama and along the Gulf Coast.”

COVID-19 has been a large shock to our world and our campus, and students, as well as
teachers, continue to adjust to online classes. Sophomore, Caroline Landaiche, explains through
text message, “Jumping back into school after being off for two weeks has been a super weird
adjustment, especially since my first task was a test. Going from being on the Hill to Memphis
so quickly was shocking and finding out that we are staying home makes it that much harder.”
Landaiche is one of many students that are having trouble adjusting to online courses.

In addition to adjusting, students are beginning to realize the need for excessive
amounts of motivation in order to get homework done, study for tests, and listen to lectures.
Many professors utilize ‘Zoom,’ a group video chat service, to conduct class meetings. However,
video chat services like ‘Zoom’ can be distracting to students because they are not as engaged
as they would be in a face-to-face classroom setting. Distractions might include things such as
barking dogs, noisy family members, the desire to be in bed, etc. With these distractions,
students become less motivated and more likely to stray away from schoolwork.

In a New York Times article by Susan Dynarski, she states, “…In high schools and
colleges, there is mounting evidence that the growth of online education is hurting a critical
group: the less proficient students who are precisely those most in need of skilled classroom
teachers.” Those who need more attention than others will have the most trouble adjusting to
online education because a classroom setting allows them to thrive by asking questions and
getting one-on-one assistance. This is one of many obstacles that students and professors must
address during online education.

Having dyslexia, I have found online education to be difficult because I focus better in a
classroom setting. However, things that I have found helpful when learning online are setting a
schedule, finding motivation, and taking breaks. In addition, the most important thing that I
have found is to make yourself a quiet study space. Families, including mine, can be loud and
invasive while you are trying to work. I moved my study space into our front room by putting
two TV trays next to each other and moving a lamp next to them. This room has become my
quiet study space, and it allows me to focus on my work and avoid distractions.

Overall, students should take time to focus on having a quiet space to relax and focus on
school. This time can be extremely stressful and lonely so take time throughout the day to
breathe, video chat with friends, exercise, and spend time alone or with family.
If you have any questions, concerns or comments regarding the pandemic, President Joe
Lee said in his email to students to “reach out with your ideas and questions.” Spring Hill
College is taking everything into consideration during this time and continues to pray for its
students, faculty, staff and all those affected by COVID-19.