By Allen Mena

Since the Lehman campus closed on March 12, all faculty and staff have had to switch to online technology to provide distance learning and other services. As Lehmanites work to adapt to the new systems, some are facing greater challenges.

“The transition to online hasn’t been bad, but there are some technical difficulties that happen during classes that have to do with Zoom and Blackboard,” said Emmet O’Boy, a sophomore English major. O’Boy noted that keeping a stable connection to these platforms during online classes was his primary problem, along with apps having server-side problems and professors having poor Wi-Fi connections.

Muhamed Yasser, a sophomore computer science major, did not find online learning problematic. “I haven’t had many problems with the online format besides deadlines changing during the transition period,” he said.

Richie Castillo, a junior acting major, also found the transition workable. “Despite obstacles regarding the coronavirus, Lehman is still doing what they can,” he said. “I haven’t really had many challenges because I did not expect classes to even continue.”

However, undeclared sophomore, Rebekah Gamble had some frustrations with online learning. “My house is sometimes loud during classes and that can make it very hard to focus during lessons,” she said. “However, my overall experience has been good.”

Other students had less optimistic views on the transition and more trouble with online platforms.

Amy Figueroa, a sophomore communications and media studies major, said she has faced some difficulties with online classes. “Some difficulties that I have encountered during online learning is viewing the material,” she said. “Some of my professors are not prepared to use Zoom or Blackboard Collaborate. Sometimes it is very hard to view our class work or any material they have ready for class.”

Britney Delgado, an Anthropology, Biology, and Chemistry Major who is graduating in 2023, noted: “One difficulty that I’ve encountered is finding the motivation to complete classwork; ever since this shift to online classes, it feels as though our workload has significantly increased.”

Classes that have aspects that need to be conducted in the classroom are also struggling. Learning modes that require students to be physically in a classroom need to be adjusted to find compromises that enable convenient learning for students.

Music and Dance Departments students, for instance, are not able to dance in large enough rooms because they are confined to their homes.

“Distance and remote learning is new to me, and frankly, I feel completely out of my depth,” said Michael Manswell, a dance professor at Lehman. “However, I believe this situation presents an opportunity for me to practice and include distance learning in all my courses. The learning curve has been steep.”

“It has also underscored the fact we NEED to meet ‘in person’ for some courses to be truly successful. Some Dance, Music & Theater courses cannot be taught solely online,” said Manswell. He added that the Department’s main emphasis is, “to keep the class schedule as close to the planned one as possible for the sake and comfort of the students.”