Questions with Kids: School During COVID

The following interviews were conducted by a CSUCI Service Learning student.

Questions:

1. What is something your teacher does in distance learning that you like? 
2. Do you have reliable internet access? 
3. What is your favorite/ least favorite thing about distance learning?
4. How much time during a day do you think you should spend on virtual learning? 
5. If you could change one thing about virtual learning what would it be?
6. What do you miss the most about in-person school?
7. What motivates you to do online school/distance learning?
8. Does distance learning work better for you?
9. Did you learn anything about yourself through distance learning?
10. How often do you get to talk to your friends during a school day in distance learning? 

Answers:

Seven year old in 2nd grade

1. I like that my teacher gives out math assignments because I’m good at math.
2. Yes, I have reliable internet access but the Chromebook the school gave me is slow.
3. My favorite thing about distance learning is staying in my pajamas and my least favorite is school takes longer because the work isn’t done together.
4. I think we should spend 3 hours a day on virtual learning.
5. If I could change one thing about distance learning, it would be changing the Zoom meetings to videos so that I can rewatch them.
6. I miss seeing everyone in person and recess.
7. Dad makes me do my online school.
8. I work better at in-person school. I can’t concentrate at home.
9. I learned that my eyes hurt if I look at Zoom for too long.
10. We got to talk to our friends one time so far. 

Nine year old in 4th grade

1. I like that my teachers let us get off the meeting early sometimes.
2. Yes, I have reliable internet access.
3. My favorite thing about distance learning is getting to leave at lunch and my least favorite is a lot more work.
4. I think we should spend a shorter amount of time distance learning than in person school.
5. If I could change one thing about distance learning, I would make my day shorter.
6. I miss my friends the most.
7. Dad makes me get up to do my online school.
8. Yes, distance learning works better for me because I can do school anywhere I want.
9. I learned that I am a grade level ahead in writing strategies.
10. I can talk to my friends every Friday.

Twelve year old in 7th grade

1. I like that I have more free time.
2. Yes, I have reliable internet access.
3. My favorite thing about distance learning is the extra free time. My least favorite thing is not seeing friends or meeting new people.
4. I think we should spend the same amount of time for both distance learning and in-person learning.
5. If I could change one thing about distance learning, there would be less busy work because we’re not in actual school. 
6. I miss seeing my friends.
7. Self discipline motivates me to do my school work.
8. At home school works better for me.
9. No, I haven’t learning anything about myself.
10. My friends and I can interact with each other if it is on subject, and sometimes if there is extra time left in a meeting.