Online Learning Tips: Read about what two Secondary Students have to say

We have been focusing a lot on Primary School aged children in our last few posts, so we decided to talk to two Secondary School Students to understand how they are coping with Online Learning.

Charlotte and Izzy are two Australian tweens who were both born in Hong Kong and have lived their entire lives here. Both are now Year 8 students who have been online learning since February, with a very brief period of face-to-face learning in July before the Summer Holiday. I asked them a range of questions about their experience and here is what they had to say.

LIKES AND DISLIKES?

There’s a big adjustment to online learning, especially for tweens who are still learning to be more independent with their school work but also need to learn the expectations of being in secondary school. Organisation and keeping track of all the different subjects is one of the toughest skills to negotiate however Charlotte feels she is more organised during online learning and finds that being in her own home helps to keep her on track. When asked what is the BEST thing about online learning, Charlotte was very quick to respond that she is really enjoying the extra time she gets to spend with her family. ‘The biggest benefit of online learning is that my parents are around to help me with maths and science’.

Izzy said that online learning has made her really appreciate being able to go to school even though she has more time to relax and do the things she enjoys. She did admit that ‘I’m not as motivated with my school work as I am when I am actually at school and I find it harder to focus’

WHAT DO YOU MISS?

Both girls miss their extra curricular activities such as sport and dance classes although they still feel connected to their friends through texting and hanging out when they have the chance and social distancing allows.

Izzy mentions that she gets quite bored in the afternoons when online school is over because she was fairly active with sport and activities. (we can all relate to that)

MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING

Mental health and well-being has been a big focus in the media lately, especially in regards to students who have missed months and months of school. Interestingly both girls feel the school could and should be doing more to support their mental health and well-being and neither of them could really pinpoint any additional support for them in the past months. Izzy mentioned that because she has more downtime she doesn’t have as much to occupy her mind.

Both girls state they are worried about their older relatives who are vulnerable to Covid-19 especially because they are not sure when they can see them again given the strict border closures in Australia.

I know we can’t interpret just two students experience as a general view of the collective experience but their overall positivity and maturity has made me think that we may just need to give the Gen Z’s a big old fashioned Gen X high five for being awesome and adaptable and resilient in these changing times.

WE’VE GOT THIS

Leith Stewart