Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, The MacDuffie School for the 2020-2021 school year has provided students with the flexibility to learn online, which means that online learners are presented with the unique objective of completing all school work in a timely manner, but at home. While some online learners believe that the home environment provides challenges when it comes to time management, they also acknowledge that there is also time gained from it.

There has always been a distinction between school work and home work based on the location that the work has been done. Time management has always been a skill that people use in their life, and typically those who can exercise this skill can work efficiently without distractions.

Some online learners believe that not being in a school environment with students surrounding you does not help with their productivity, and can lead to distractions and loss of time.

“When I was in person, I had an easier time getting things done because I was surrounded by people that kind of motivated me to do [work], ” said Senior Leslie Pena.

Depending on a person’s online learning environment, they can also experience frequent interruptions to their work. There are some students that do not have a space to learn all the time, and people walking by in front of them may distract them and give them less time to complete the work.

On the other hand, there are some aspects of online learning that actually provide online learners with some extra time. The 10 minute breaks in between the blocks means that online learners can take the time to relax, while students learning in person have to navigate the building while also complying with the COVID-19 protocols.

“I will say that I have more time…I don’t have to spend time on travel like going to school and back [from] the school,” said Senior Ellie Zou.

Zou added that as a result of this benefit, she can wake up later for school while still attending classes on time.

International students studying abroad also have more time to complete their assignments depending on the teachers. Due to time zone issues between students from the US and different countries, some teachers allow for international students to hand in assignments when it is appropriate to do so, which provides international online learners with more flexibility regarding how they manage their time.

Both online and in-person learning have their advantages and disadvantages when it comes to how much work is given, and how much time you are given to complete it. However, completing the homework that is given earlier mitigates the need to to worry about it in the first place, according to Zou.

“I would suggest all classmates or friends do the homework first before doing anything they want…as for me I like to watch movies or do something else, but I think if I can finish the homework first it is safer,” concluded Zou.