The first week of completely online classes at the University of Wyoming has passed and will continue to the end of the spring semester.
“Things seem to be progressing well. Everyone I have talked to said it was a transition for sure, but students seem to be getting into the swing of things with online [classes],” said Elizabeth Minton, an associate professor of marketing at UW.
This was done in an effort to limit social contact on campus, maintain progression towards degrees and for operations at UW to continue.
“Honestly, communication has probably increased over what it was in-course because I am now answering emails up until the point I go to bed and on all days of the week,” said Minton. “It’s a challenge for us professors to have balance now in trying to bend over backwards to help these students succeed and allay their uncertainty and concerns”
Online classes cost less according to the Corporate Financial Institute. This is because students are not responsible for paying the school for handouts and other supplies, along with the classroom space and its seating. If students want these supplies or handouts, they must instead use their own financial means in order to pay for them. Yet, currently students at UW are paying for a full semester of traditional classes when half of the semester is online.
The online fee for non-residential students is $208 cheaper than for in class tuition rates and the online class fees are only $25 a credit hour, according to the University of Wyoming’s Fall 2019 and Spring 2020 tuition and fees.
All classes have begun to operate differently in ways that might be helpful to some students. Some classes meet on Zoom, others consist of video lectures and assignments and some request that all assignments be finished by the last day. With a broad and random variety of class types, is this beneficial for students? Is there a way that outshines the rest during this confusing and complex time period of the COVID-19 pandemic?
“I am having zoom meetings with each of my student groups for my advanced course, which is allowing me to check in with every student in the class,” said Minton.
Online classes can be challenging as they require students to manage their time and for the extreme learning curve for technology, according to Strayer University. COVID-19 has already changed everyone’s normal schedules drastically, from not going to in-person classes to trying to head back home more, which has been added to the plates of many students than just online classes. Balancing these hard and new changes to students schedules could prove a challenge for them at this time.
“I would just encourage all students and teachers to reach out to each other,” said Minton. “I think the students need to know that we as professors are there for them and to feel a personal connection rather than just a fish in a big pool.”
