3 ms·

why are you glad that online classes were removed? Seems like a great option.

jackson1442 5y ago
In my experience, online classes were across the board _significantly_ worse than in person classes. Yes, you do have to haul your ass into class every day, but in person interaction is so much more natural than interaction over zoom. It’s natural to talk and collaborate with people around you in a physical classroom, but it feels so incredibly forced to interact with people in prescribed breakout rooms. Not to mention it’s been a year and almost no curriculums have actually been adapted to an online format. If we’re going to shove a curriculum based around in person attendance down everyone’s throats, you might as well have the students show up in person.
- admax88qqq 5y ago
  Should that really be mandated by the province though. Perhaps there is an incantation on online classes that will work now, but if in person is mandated we'll never find it.
- jbverschoor 5y ago
  Sure.. but what does that really mean? That the tests / scores do not reflect the actual value or performance of someone. All I see is dinosaurs trying to fight in every possible way to try and keep their right to exist. Feels a lot like mp3 in the 90s. People who are there for the piece of paper generally don't give a rats ass about the rest. People who are really interested in their field have so many other ways to gather knowledge and experience.
  - jackson1442 5y ago
    > the tests / scores do not reflect the actual value or performance of someone Yes. 100%. In my physics class last term, performance was so consistently poor on exams that the minimum score on exams was 40%, and you could earn 15+% on top of your final exam just for showing up to class. Instructional quality was very poor, due in part to the online format. Knowledge retention was equally poor. If college is to move online, it needs a fresh start. Classes need to be designed for online interactions rather than in person.
  - 908B64B197 5y ago
    > People who are there for the piece of paper generally don't give a rats ass about the rest. Good schools typically want to filter out these people; You want an environment where people are there for learning and passionate about their field, not just checking stuff off a checklist.
- watwut 5y ago
  How does that imply it is a good thing to close off online option and make it mandatory for everyone?
- checker659 5y ago
  We're interacting here on HN just fine. :)
mercy_dude 5y ago
Online classes just aren’t the same as real lectures. For an area such as chemical engineering, how are you supposed to do lab exercises at home? Not to say, exams are a shit show with rampant cheating.
- dapids 5y ago
  Exactly, the people who argue for online courses as if they are entitled to them are quick to jump to the defence of them, yet they are totally unpractical for swaths of fields.

In my experience, online classes were across the board _significantly_ worse than in person classes. Yes, you do have to haul your ass into class every day, but in person interaction is so much more natural than interaction over zoom. It’s natural to talk and collaborate with people around you in a physical classroom, but it feels so incredibly forced to interact with people in prescribed breakout rooms. Not to mention it’s been a year and almost no curriculums have actually been adapted to an online format. If we’re going to shove a curriculum based around in person attendance down everyone’s throats, you might as well have the students show up in person.

admax88qqq 5y ago
Should that really be mandated by the province though. Perhaps there is an incantation on online classes that will work now, but if in person is mandated we'll never find it.
jbverschoor 5y ago
Sure.. but what does that really mean? That the tests / scores do not reflect the actual value or performance of someone. All I see is dinosaurs trying to fight in every possible way to try and keep their right to exist. Feels a lot like mp3 in the 90s. People who are there for the piece of paper generally don't give a rats ass about the rest. People who are really interested in their field have so many other ways to gather knowledge and experience.
- jackson1442 5y ago
  > the tests / scores do not reflect the actual value or performance of someone Yes. 100%. In my physics class last term, performance was so consistently poor on exams that the minimum score on exams was 40%, and you could earn 15+% on top of your final exam just for showing up to class. Instructional quality was very poor, due in part to the online format. Knowledge retention was equally poor. If college is to move online, it needs a fresh start. Classes need to be designed for online interactions rather than in person.
- 908B64B197 5y ago
  > People who are there for the piece of paper generally don't give a rats ass about the rest. Good schools typically want to filter out these people; You want an environment where people are there for learning and passionate about their field, not just checking stuff off a checklist.
watwut 5y ago
How does that imply it is a good thing to close off online option and make it mandatory for everyone?
checker659 5y ago
We're interacting here on HN just fine. :)

mercy_dude 5y ago

Online classes just aren’t the same as real lectures. For an area such as chemical engineering, how are you supposed to do lab exercises at home? Not to say, exams are a shit show with rampant cheating.

dapids 5y ago
Exactly, the people who argue for online courses as if they are entitled to them are quick to jump to the defence of them, yet they are totally unpractical for swaths of fields.