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S1E1: Student Perspectives on Pandemic Learning

Fall 2020 was an unprecedented semester for all at Georgetown. The COVID-19 pandemic required faculty and students to completely shift to online, remote learning with no time to prepare. In this episode of What We’re Learning about Learning, we interviewed a diverse group of Georgetown undergraduate and graduate students, who shared their gratitude for faculty efforts, candidly discussed both the good and the bad of attending online classes during the pandemic, and offered suggestions for improving the student experience going forward

In the interest of deepening an understanding about student learning and engagement, CNDLS, along with the Office of Assessment and Decision Support, surveyed students after noticing an overall disengagement with their classes. And there were a variety of factors that affected their negative remote learning experiences: Zoom fatigue, anxiety about the stress of the world, isolation from quarantine. We spoke with 12 students from all over Georgetown about their experiences.

Despite all of these setbacks, these students recognize and appreciate the professors who demonstrate empathy and compassion during this stressful time and allow students to continue their education with flexibility and open-mindedness. Through one-on-one sessions, surveys, and office hours, professors sought the chance to get to know their students better. In the same way, students also got to know the professor better too. This demonstrates what Roy Schwartzman describes as a shift “from a loss frame to an opportunity frame” where faculty innovate on previously unused digital learning tools that could energize student learning (2020).

These students’ reflections underscore the importance of students and professors working together to navigate uncharted academic waters. New teaching strategies will require professors to think outside the box, try new approaches, and take pedagogical risks. The broad range of student experiences during the pandemic will require us to learn how to remain connected to faculty, other students, and local communities.

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