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Fatigued, unable to focus, students unsure about universities reopening soon
To reopen or to not? Some University students want classes to reopen soon but others remain skeptical
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New normal: University entrance exams 2021 were held offline at the University of Indonesia in Depok, West Java, but there remains differing opinions about campus offline learning. (Universitas Indonesian twitter/Courtesy of twitter @univ_indonesia)
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tudent Revin Muhammad was in the early days of his second semester when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and classes moved online. University life should have been fun, a time of transitioning into adulthood with the wide-eyed vigor of a teen - eager to study hard and confident in pursuing dreams. Alas, the 20-year-old, like many others, has had to avoid physical socializing and learning.
“I do miss my friends,” Revin admitted, “and I have quite a fear of missing out. Especially due to the fact that I now live in Bandung, whereas most of my [university] friends are in Jakarta. When I see them hanging out, I want to join them.”
Revin studies international relations at the University of Indonesia (UI) in Depok, West Java, on the outskirts of Jakarta.
Missing his friends is not the only reason Revin is eager for universities to reopen soon. Online classes present a tough dynamic to which students like him find trouble adjusting.
“I feel like I’m deprived of proper interaction. Virtual meetings rely on a twisted sense of sight and hearing, and it’s causing my attention span to deteriorate,” he says.
“No matter how excellent the lecturer is at teaching, online classes still decrease the effectiveness of their teaching. As for those classes I’m [already] not really able to catch up with in offline classes, online classes just make it worse,” Revin said.
He said that online classes led to reduced discipline and increased the temptation to tune out. Students can simply turn off their camera and “go to sleep.”
