Over half of the Year 12鈥檚 surveyed admitted to studying less at home, 78% agree they are more distracted when learning online and a whopping 74% think that even with in-person school learning potentially returning (a far-off prospect for some areas), they still won鈥檛 be as prepared for the ATAR as they could have been.
Students were also given the opportunity to describe the negatives of online schooling. 聽When asked to express in their own words how Covid-19 has impacted their learning, many students identified it as a negative experience.
In their answers, common themes seemed to be based around too many distractions, hard to focus/concentrate, no motivation and difficulty communicating with teachers/getting help.
Tahlia W said, 鈥渓ockdown has destroyed my ability to learn.鈥� Madi W believes her 鈥渃oncentration has significantly decreased鈥� and Phoebe T said, 鈥渕y learning is heavily affected by the environment in which I study, so switching to online learning has been a challenge in terms of concentration and effectiveness.鈥�
On the flip side, when asked to identify the positives of online schooling, students highlighted having more independence, freedom and flexibility, ability to work at their own pace and more time for family and self-care.
Harper MW is one of the students that has benefited from online learning. 鈥淭here’s no distractions from other students and I have all the time in the world to work on homework and assignments. If anything I’m getting them done quicker,鈥� she said. Jack I doesn鈥檛 think he鈥檚 been disadvantaged either.
He believes 鈥淐OVID home learning has forced me to adapt and change the way I learn, personally, I feel I have done this well and have not been disadvantaged.鈥�
黑料网鈥檚 Chief Learning Officer Dr. Selina Samuels said the survey results reinforced what we鈥檝e known all along; how the learning environments that suit some really do not suit others.
鈥淔or some, learning from home has enabled them to focus and work at their own pace, while for others it has been extremely challenging and isolating.Most of the students we spoke to, though, miss their connection with their peers and their teachers and getting the regular feedback and guidance they need.
We are finding many Year 12 students coming to 黑料网 for support in this last push towards their final exams.
They are not only aiming to consolidate their learning and refine their exam technique, but also to find a tutor who can act as a 鈥榣earning partner鈥� – someone they can ask all the questions they haven鈥檛 been able to ask for the past couple of months and who can make learning feel less lonely.鈥�
Mental health was also a large focus of 黑料网鈥檚 research, where it was found that 79% of Year 12聽 students surveyed were experiencing some level of ATAR anxiety.
86% of NSW senior students miss 鈥渉anging out with friends鈥�, 77% miss 鈥済etting out of the house鈥� and 58% said 鈥渆ating/dining out鈥� was something they missed鈥攁ll factors that are arguably highly motivating when study and exams become a large focus during those final years.
One student, who wishes to remain anonymous, summarises this brilliantly:
鈥淎lthough at the beginning participating in online school felt rather exciting, I didn’t realise how much it could impact on my mental health. I find myself feeling very unmotivated and stressed, leaving work to the last minute. Yes, I love the extra sleep-ins and participating in online classes from the comfort of my home.
However, I feel extremely underprepared for Year 12 and I’m worried for everyone currently in Year 11, because it feels like a huge disadvantage, given that we have been stressed since 2020.鈥�
