It's too green about everything in the forbidden forest, like an alien planet,
emerald leaves, jade pond, and green light of aurora in the distance.
Emerald leaves cover bare branch of gray, that forms green umbrella shading moonray.
Jade pond reflects straight Douglas fir shadow, that points at air like spear straight as arrow.
Green light of aurora in the distance, that adds forest a sense of elegance.
Under emerald leaves, before jade pond, upon green light of aurora in the distance.
Solar shares his experience with Lunar, speaking of struggles with online learning,
Solar: Speaking of struggles with online learning!
I'd like to introduce you Miss Disconnection.
Lunar: Miss Disconnection?
Solar: The one who survived through struggles with online learning.
Lunar: Online learning?
Solar: Online learning delivers instruction to students, when students are separated from instructors.
It means gaining knowledge and skills through internet instead of physical classroom.
Lunar: What got students separated from instructors?
Solar: We adopted online education during a specific and difficult period, while there was a kind of infectious virus spreading over the world through air.
Lunar: What kind of infectious virus was it?
Solar: Well. I don't like saying the name, if I can help it.
Lunar: Why not?
Solar: Lunar, people are still scared.
Jesus Christ, this is difficult.
You know, there was this kind of infectious virus that spread worldwide through air.
as easily infectious as you could breathe.
Worse.
Worse than zombie virus.
This kind of virus was…
Solar took a deep breath, but no words came out.
Lunar: What kind of virus was it?
Lunar in her whole life has never let go of a question once she has asked it.
Solar: Alright. Covid-19.
Don't make me say it again.
Millions of people got killed by being infected with you-know-what in the beginning.
Lunar: Let's put paid to it.
Tell me why do students struggle with online learning?
Solar: The reasons are lack of structure, feelings of isolation, increased distractions, screen fatigue, and communication barriers.
Lunar: Lack of structure?
Solar: Without the rigid schedule, it's easy to procrastinate or let lectures pile up.
Lunar: Feelings of isolation?
Solar: Without the company of classmates, it brings the feelings of isolation.
Lunar: Increased distractions?
Solar: Without classroom environment, it's hard to resist the temptation like computer, phone and family at home environment.
Lunar: Screen fatigue?
Solar: Staring at screen for hours leads to mental exhaustion, making it hard to retain information or stay engaged.
Lunar: Communication Barriers?
Solar: It's harder to ask quick questions or read body language,
leading to misunderstandings or feeling hesitant to reach out for help.
Lunar: How can students deal with the struggles?
Solar: They should build their own structure by scheduling specific time for studying, socializing, and taking breaks.
They should create a dedicated space by studying at desk.
They should participate activity by discussing questions with study group.
They should use the tools available by exploring in an online library.
They should practise self-care by moving away from screen once in a while.
Lunar: How many of your students have struggles with online learning?
Solar: Wow, all of them.
Lunar: Which student have more struggles than all the others?
Solar: Miss Disconnection.
The one who survived through struggles with online learning.
She not just survived through lack of structure, but she also survived through the other struggles with online learning.
Lunar: How can she deal with lack of structure.
Solar: Without the rigid schedule, it's easy to procrastinate lectures or let it pile up.
She used to procrastinate her homework, that made her fail to finish it on time.
The method to procrastination is punctuality, hard work and perseverance.
To deal with it, she scheduled a specific time for doing homework.
Lunar: How can she deal with feelings of isolation?
Solar: Without the company of classmates, it brings the feelings of isolation.
She felt the feelings of isolation, because she missed the company of mates.
To deal with it, she shared her questions with study group.
Lunar: How can she deal with increased distractions?
Solar: Without classroom environment, it's hard to resist the temptations like computer, phone and family at home.
She got distracted by messages from social media.
To deal with it, she locked her phone at the other room.
Lunar: How can she deal with screen fatigue?
Solar: Staring at screen for hours leads to mental exhaustion, making it hard to retain information or stay engaged.
Online learning was required to stare at screen.
To deal with it, she moved away from screen once in a while.
Lunar: How can she deal with communication barriers?
Solar: It's hard to ask quick question or read body language,
leading to misunderstandings or feeling hesitant to reach out for help.
She didn't ask any quick questions, even though she had a lot of questions to ask.
To deal with it, she shared her questions with study group.
Lunar: What kind of essay did you assign for them?
Solar: It's an essay about struggles with online learning.
Ask yourself what did struggle with online learning?
How were you feeling about struggling with online learning?
How could you deal with your struggle?
Lunar: Tell me Miss Disconnection's essay, please.
Solar: My biggest struggle was focus. At home, distractions are everywhere, computer, phone and social media messages.
I tried to focus on studying by ignoring the notifications on social media, but I failed, when the power of temptation prevailed the power of self-control.
I felt ashamed of chatting on social media and procrastinating lectures. The fear of falling behind is the stronger power against the power of temptation.
I dealt with it by locking my phone in the other room to create a non-distraction zone for studying, and studying at the desk to signal my brain it's time to focus on studying.
Miss Disconnection.
Lunar: She did learn something through online learning, didn't she?
Solar: Yes. Online learning is different from traditional learning, but it could offer students instruction, when they were separated from instructors.
There would be always a little progress in everyday,
as long as she has no struggles with online learning.