By KIARA DONOFRIO –  As the pandemic continues, schools find different ways to teach students. In accordance with CDC guidelines, students have to social distance six feet apart and wear masks.  Online learning prevents students from being exposed to the virus during their time at school.  The Indiana Senior High school has two options for fully online: synchronous (hybrid) and asynchronous. 

Synchronous is virtual learning through Google Meets and Google Classroom.  Students and teachers have a set class schedule and login requirements. This option occurs Monday through Friday, the same times as school from 7:30 am to 2:16 pm  (Wednesday has an abbreviated schedule where all students are online).

Asynchronous learning is learning done through the school’s IDEAL program with an assigned IDEAL teacher and no set times.  

With hybrid learning, every student in the school goes online for Wednesday.  This schedule happens from 8:56 am to 12:19 pm.  Online school is done through Google Meets at home while the teacher is on a computer at school. 

Every individual has a different experience with the new learning.  Senior Janet Barber stated, “Learning doesn’t feel as personal anymore, it’s also harder to get help.  It’s harder to ask questions and get the teacher’s attention.  There is a message feature but sometimes the teachers aren’t always looking at the screen.”

Synchronous learning is new to the school district.   “Some challenges I’ve been facing is trying to get down a schedule, and get myself on track and back into school mode,” senior Kiley Libengood commented, “It’s harder knowing I’m at home and it’s not giving me much motivation to want to do the work.”

 Asynchronous learning has been a different experience from being in the school building. Senior Chloe Hunter said, “It is very different, but I love it!  I get to learn at my own pace, and work ahead of the schedule, which is great.”

Synchronous and asynchronous learning is affecting many students’ learning in many ways.   The state health guidelines concerning the virus could possibly lead to all students being all online if the positive cases increase to a certain point.   

[Photo by Chloe Hunter]

Photo Caption: Chloe Hunter, an asynchronous student, is concentrating on finishing her school work.