College in a fully remote format is not even close to what the on campus experience provides–for both students and professors. Unfortunately, with COVID-19 remaining a public health crisis, Smith, and many other colleges and school districts, have deemed a fully remote semester to be the best option. “Zoom University”, as students have coined it, comes with its unique challenges and experiences. Whether you’re in Northampton, Bangladesh, Alaska, or Mississippi, Smithies have come together in a virtual community to keep on pushing through to check off another semester towards graduation. I interviewed nine students and five faculty members to ask them how “Zoom University” is going for them.
Not surprisingly, both students and professors miss being on campus and having the in-person experience. For professors, a key component of teaching is interacting and engaging in meaningful conversations. As Professor Marc Lendler of Government says, “There simply can’t be the same spontaneous, sometimes unplanned, exchanges that are the best moments in a classroom.” Yu Laoshi, of East Asian Languages and Cultures, explains that “Class time is not as efficient as in-person classes. I constantly have to look for names to call on students in zoom class.” For students, the in-person class and residential experience is paramount in their college experience. Most students interviewed said that despite not being on campus, they still feel like college students given the college-level workload. In fact, Halle Duckworth ‘21, from North Carolina, says “I feel like a college student at home with no social aspects.” On the positive side, Catherine Park ‘23 from New York, says that this fall semester “has normal scheduling, is better adjusted, and there are lots of zoom meetings.” This format allows for a more structured learning environment as opposed to the spring 2020 semester.
Smith Professors are finding Zoom classes to be more time-consuming to prepare for. Professor Sam Ng of Africana Studies says, “More work is required than in person teaching. I need to seek students out and check in. I also have to upload materials, and respond to asynchronous posts.” Chen Laoshi, of East Asian Languages and Cultures, explains that “the hardest part is making learning effective. Activities like exchanging authentic information take much more planning, and logistics [of online systems] is challenging and time-consuming.” On the other hand, Professor Brianna McMillan of Psychology says, “I share more resources with Zoom classes, this helps me be more in tune to help guide student’s learning.”
Living at home while learning or teaching over Zoom, as well as maintaining motivation, social interaction, and concentration is challenging for students and professors. Violet He Yong ‘22, a Chinese international student living in Northampton, says “studying with friends at the dining room and using the screen time feature on my phone are the best ways to stay on track and to keep being motivated.” Carrie Weil ‘22, from Seattle Washington, would agree as she says “I think it’s harder studying at home because I’m in school but I’m not AT school. Studying with friends on Zoom is one of the ways I keep myself accountable.” The Smithies interviewed said their living situation allowed them to work in a conducive environment because of their access to wifi and having a quiet location for working. Abby Wuorinen ‘23 from Alaska explains, “Living with my parents has been manageable, I’m on good terms with them. However, I know other people that are struggling with living at home.”
International student Arshiyan Alam Laaj ‘23, from Bangladesh, says that for international students in Asia, “…the wifi connection was not consistently stable and resulted in difficulties in communication.” The time difference is also a challenging component of Zoom classes. As Laaj says, “The 10-hour difference in time zones is difficult for me… [when figuring out] when to study because classes usually occur right before bedtime for me, and some meetings end up going till 3:00 am or even 6:00 am, so it is extremely difficult maintaining a uniform sleeping schedule.”
While Smithies and Smith professors are finding Zoom classes to be challenging, and less than stellar, Jamie Rambin ‘24 from Mississippi says, “It’s quick and easy to login to professors’ classes [and] office hours, meetings, etc. without having to worry about running across campus. I’ve also found it easier to remember peoples’ faces with their preferred names and pronouns.” Lexie Leeser ‘21 from Maryland says, “My professors are all trying their best and have adjusted well to Zoom.” As Rachel Freeman, ‘24 from Idaho puts it, “Having school in the morning and work in the afternoon helps me structure my time better. My work is a source of support….” While Smith students and professors of varying years at Smith, majors, departments, and locations have found Zoom classes to require adjusting to, and far from what the in-person experience offers, they have found ways to make this semester work.
