Lessons from the semester of Zoom

By QUINNE SHULTZ and JADYN BELLANDER

This has been an incredibly challenging semester at Jefferson High School, as the closure of our school and social distancing has forced everyone to work online. We’ve confronted new technologies, distractions in our homes, lack of motivation, and many other factors. And beyond classes, everyone has dealt with their own personal struggles: unhealthy family members, lack of childcare, and mental/emotional stress. 

We asked students their opinions on distance learning, and for their advice to teachers. Similarly, we asked teachers for their advice to students. Together, their insights tell us a lot about how we’ve weathered this strange time, how we can demonstrate empathy and patience in the remaining days of this school year — and how we might work together in the future.