10
Erin Kennedy
Overall, this chapter is rather weak…The theory section needs to be strengthened. This chapter also needs a stronger connection to college students…Is this topic covered better in another chapter?
Introduction
COVID-19 has completely disrupted the education system and learning process by causing school closures, and, because of this, teachers have needed to adapt their teaching methods. Young children, especially, have been most affected as they are more likely to experience negative long term effects from these school closures. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused schools all over the world to turn to a virtual teaching format, which negatively impacts students academically, as students are disengaged with the material due to feelings of isolation. They are easily distracted in their homes, and do not know how to use, or do not have access to new technology needed for online learning.
Connection to STS Theory
The isolation aspect of the pandemic has caused a negative impact on the learning process of students, as they tend to feel more disengaged from the content material presented in online learning. By not attending school, students are not able to see their friends and are feeling more isolated than ever. This draws a relation to STS, as these youth are forced to virtually engage with their peers, which causes them to feel aspects depression and loneliness. As stated in “Student Mental Health in the Midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Call for Further Research and Immediate Solutions,” “among the many student surveys administered worldwide, one survey by YoungMinds reported that 83% of young respondents agreed that the pandemic worsened pre-existing mental health conditions, mainly due to school closures, loss of routine, and restricted social connections (YoungMinds, 2020)” (Grubic and Badovinac, 2020). College students especially have been affected by remote learning, as they are used to physically interacting with their friends. The remote learning that is being implemented into universities has heightened the risk of suicide and depression in college students. Later stated in the same article, “Based on insights from research examining the impact of academic disruptions on students (Wickens, 2011), it is reasonable to venture that students may experience reduced motivation toward studies, increased pressures to learn independently, abandonment of daily routines, and potentially higher rates of dropout as direct consequences of these measures” (Grubic and Badovinac, 2020). Young students are also experiencing feelings of isolation as they have short attention spans, so it is hard to sit at a computer all day and not physically engage with the material or their friends. As stated in the article, “School is Digital, Kids Are Overwhelmed. How Do You Manage Screen Time in the COVID Era?”, “…Lim is also the mother of two FACTS students, and while her 9-year-old manages virtual school well, her first grader can get overwhelmed. ‘My 6-y