We all know the easy way out of having to climb out of bed, get dressed and ready, and make it across campus to your class on time: take the Zoom or asynchronous version of the course. Through my time at Temple, I have realized that while it is convenient to take your classes from bed, there is so much value in being face-to-face in the classroom.
When I first came to college, I did not even know that taking classes online over Zoom or asynchronously was an option. My first semester, I was in classes five days a week and pretty much all day. I got accustomed to building my routine while also learning how to manage my time in the mornings and get to each class on time. When it came time to pick my classes for my second semester, I was made aware that some of my courses, even my required courses for my major, were offered online. I opted to take a few of my classes online, going mostly for the asynchronous classes that are built entirely without class meetings.
I quickly learned that without the face-to-face interactions that come with a normal class setup, it is easy to lose sight of the material, as I began to lack the connections that come with showing up every day. The only time I interacted with my peers was through discussion boards, and I had no idea what anyone in the course even looked like. Admittedly, I also never took advantage of the Zoom office hours that the professors in these courses had.
Throughout the semester, I was able to get all of my work for these courses done on time as the assignments were all posted very far in advance, but I honestly felt like I did not really learn much of anything. Yes, I finished my classes with strong grades, but there were no discussions, time to ask questions about the content, or real-life activities where you were forced to talk to the people in your class, whether you wanted to or not. I realized that these are components I truly like about taking in-person classes, and that these come before the convenience of not having to leave the house to show up to a class.
After that learning experience, I have chosen the in-person version of the class almost every time. I took one asynchronous class as I needed it to graduate, and it was not offered at any time or day I could take it. Being there in person has allowed me to form connections with professors that I still have to this day, not to mention the friendships that I have formed through continuing to show up in person.
I urge all students, whether you are just beginning your journey at Temple or are close to graduating like me, to opt for the in-person class instead of virtual. It may be daunting at first to register for classes that are only held in-person, but the benefits that come with it will stay with you through your time being in college.