Kentucky State University students adapt to new normal of online learning

Kentucky State University students adapt to new normal of online learning

Posted on March 31, 2020 in COVID-19 stayinformed

As Kentucky State University transitioned to online learning, students are adapting to a new normal in their course instruction.

While the transition has caused some anxiety, Thorobreds are rising to the occasion.

“The thought of taking all 21 credit hours online caused me a great deal of worry, since I tend to avoid online classes as I typically score lower in them simply due to the level of responsibility they require,” Madison Powell, a senior political science and history double major from Lawrenceburg, said.

Powell said she was job shadowing in Washington D.C. when she found out instruction was transitioning to online.

Powell said her professors post work on Blackboard for the students to complete by a certain deadline. Having no regularly scheduled meeting times has allowed her to pick up a full-time job.

“If I’m not doing my school work in the kitchen in the mornings, then I’m doing it from my car on my lunch break,” Powell said.

Terrence Moore Jr., a junior music major from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, said his professors use Zoom while others use Blackboard Video.

Moore said he completes his school work from his room at home.

“Although there’s now limited distractions, I sometimes miss the distractions because it helped make my college experience that much more fun,” Moore said.

Dakota Waldridge, a junior mass communications major from Taylorsville, said his professors have granted a lot of flexibility because he lives in a rural area and has limited internet access.

Waldridge said he’s taken online classes before, but he’s never taken all of his courses online at one time.

Michael O’Shay Johnson III, a sophomore education major from Harrodsburg, said the most difficult part of this experience has been the added responsibility of online learning.

Moore said he misses his friends, campus, working in The Learning Center and everything Kentucky State.

“I miss seeing even the people that I’m not extremely close with because they would always greet me with a smile or hug, and if I was having a bad day, they’d always cheer me up,” Moore said. “Now that I can’t see those beautiful faces anymore so it’s really upsetting.”

While everyone is adjusting to life during a global pandemic, Thorobreds are rising to the occasion and continuing to learn despite the obstacles.