By Rita Li, Staff Writer

Distance learning is very different from the learning that we are used to, and sometimes it can be difficult for students to engage with each other due to technological issues that are out of our control. I have experienced this firsthand, as it can be very difficult for me to communicate in breakout rooms due to my microphone not working. 

I may initially seem rude to others because I do not answer right away. To communicate, I must use the chat feature on Zoom, and it is often not an issue for my teachers, but sometimes they do not read the chat and get confused when I do not audibly reply when I am called on. Fortunately, they are getting used to the fact that my, and a few of my classmates’, microphone does not work. The biggest problem I face with not being able to talk through Zoom is the inability to discuss math problems and equations. For example, I do not know how to type math symbols, such as square root and exponents in the chat, making it hard to share my answers. On the other hand, my classmates have no trouble explaining math equations and answers because they have technology that enables them to do so. I also cannot participate in presentations where I have to explain what I created on my Google Slides. It takes much longer for me to type than it takes to speak, so when I am typing, everyone must wait for me to finish, creating an awkward silence.

Wifi issues and slow devices can also be a pitfall to distance learning. Since my microphone never works, my teachers suggest that I use the school provided Chromebook. While I was able to speak and communicate much better, the Chromebook was much slower than my personal device and I often missed at least five minutes of class per day when using it. I would usually get kicked out of the Zoom call when my teachers assigned me to a breakout room while using the Chromebook. I cannot afford to miss important lectures, so I sacrificed a computer with a working microphone in exchange for one with better wifi. 

While communicating may be difficult, I still try to make the best of it. To make it faster, I use acronyms to shorten up words without confusing others. I also go to the reactions bar and give a thumbs up whenever someone asks a question that can be answered with a simple yes and no. I also try to type as fast as I can, ignoring typos as long as I am able to communicate my message clearly. 

In conclusion, I am catching up with distance learning because I am able to find my way around these technical problems and engage in class discussions.