Learning from home: self-isolating and self-learning

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This is one story I’d never thought I’d type, let alone from Woodstock, New Brunswick, instead of St. Thomas Journalism. However, the COVID-19 outbreak has affected us all and far greater than any us of could have anticipated. I can think back to the first few weeks after the Christmas break reading about the initial outbreak in Wuhan; who would have known that we’d all be social distancing a couple of months later. And yet as we all adjust I can’t shake the feeling of how strange a this all is.

While I had taken long-distance online classes before during high school, the idea of taking all of my courses online was just not normal. I think I’ve done a pretty good job of keeping up with the workload; even if being at home puts me in the vacation mindset. I can’t say I miss having to catch the bus in the mornings though.

My mother, Darlene Skinner, was one of the many middle school teachers who now have to teach online following the closure of all NB Schools. While this new format has allowed her to grant students more freedom with their assignments, there’s just something missing.

“I do miss teaching in person and having the one on one contact,” said Darlene. “It is much easier to ensure student engagement and that comprehension when you are together rather than through texts and emails.”

As a student, I believe communicating and seeing lessons online is a completely different experience than sitting in on a lecture. While some professors chose to teach through  live sessions or prerecorded presentations, there is something lost. There is an intimate nature to in-person lectures that just isn’t on a Moodle post or assignment sheet.

However, coming home has reminded me of how much I missed at university. Being able to spend time with my family is irreplaceable and while the food at the meal hall is no match for a good home-cooked meal. It’s the little things you never take time to appreciate until now; being at home 24/7 has made my family realize this.

“This has forced me to slow down and enjoy the simpler things,” Darlene remarked. “Such as spending time with family, my cat, and enjoying hobbies.”

I don’t think anyone could have expected 2020 to have turned out like this so far; and yet for all the frustration and stir craziness that comes with social distancing, it allows us to appreciate what we have so much more. Being home with family has made us so much closer and showed me just how much I’d forgotten about while living in Fredericton.

Its hard to say when any of this will end. But for now, self-isolation isn’t turning out so bad after all.

There’s nothing quite like having my pet cat for a study partner leading up to exam week after all.