Virtual learning during COVID-19 has caused overall bad student performance. However, now that students are back for in person learning, overall, student performance is improving.

Virtual learning did not motivate all students to do well in school, which decreased their student performance. Nevertheless, some students had a better student performance than they did while learning in person, and some did not have a change at all. 

A guidance counselor at Woodbridge High School, Ms. Ferrara, says, “Many cameras were pointed at the ceilings, students were laying in bed in PJs, and it seemed as if they were just not always taking things seriously.” Teachers did not know if the students were actually paying attention or if they were distracted.

Moreover, virtual learning made students fall behind and not show up on time to their virtual class sessions.

This mainly occurred because students had a hard time focusing in class, along with not being able to communicate with their classmates and teachers, as they did when they were learning in person.  

Some students found virtual learning tough, which took a toll on their mental health, resulting in bad student performance, as well. However, after coming back to in-person learning, their student performance has increased.

Getting up early in the morning, coming to school, and interacting with others, especially teachers, motivated students to learn more than they did during virtual learning. 

Gianna Benicaso, a senior at WHS said, “A positive thing about being in school is having my teacher physically there to help me and guide me in class. Being at a desk in a classroom, physically writing notes down off the board, while listening to and watching my teacher, has a much better effect than attempting to do so through a computer.” 

Ms. Owsik, a math teacher at WHS, believes that students who put effort into their work before virtual learning occurred, put in the same effort during virtual learning. 

She says, “In person, I have the ability to walk around the room, help students individually, view their work more consistently, and show more of my personality as well as see theirs.” 

Many students have found it difficult to adjust to the in-person learning environment since school has reopened. Nonetheless, ever since in-person learning has begun, students have had a better student performance.