Communication is challenge for remote-learning student

MT. PLEASANT - Mt. Pleasant High School junior Tristen Davis has spent his fall semester learning remotely. Although communication is a challenge, Davis has been successful in learning and will be moving to the district's new remote learning program through Edgenuity next semester.

Davis found the hardest part about learning remotely was not self-motivation or self-teaching but rather communicating with teachers about assignments and getting the coursework through the online learning management system Canvas.

'Learning-wise it's kind of difficult because some teachers do have the learning materials there, but other teachers don't have the materials and say to look through the book,” Davis said.

Davis added that communication has been difficult leading to missing assignments and poor grades in a few classes.

'It's probably my fault, but in two of my classes I am failing because of lack of communication, and I'm trying to work that out right now,” Davis said.

Another big challenge for most students, once they pass the communication barrier, according to Davis, is teaching yourself the work and doing your assignments.

'Then I just kind of have to figure it out myself, and I am not opposed to that, but I can see how other students might struggle with that,” Davis said.

Although remote learning isn't only hard for the students, it's been a heavy lift for the district's teaching staff. In an effort to curb the amount of stress on teachers and to improve the quality of education for remote students, the district has approved an online learning curriculum vendor for the second semester. This new curriculum also will provide teachers that will guide the students through Edgenuity's curriculum.

Davis, however, is nervous about the switch, worried for the unknowns however excited he might be for the improvement in the quality of education.

'I'm scared to a degree: I just don't understand how it's going to work, Is it going to look good on a college transcript, or is it still going to count?” Davis said.