In the recent school years there have been an increasing number of students taking online courses known as Launch classes. With the rise of digital education during the pandemic, many students and teachers have experienced the benefits of flexible schedules and accessibility that online classes can offer. While on the other hand many have faced the difficulties that come along with online learning.

“I like that I have free time but a challenge I face is assignments piling up very fast. I have to make sure to schedule when I’m going to do my schoolwork on top of my busy schedule,” junior Olivia Handley said.

Although online classes come with more flexibility, getting behind can be very overwhelming and detrimental to your grade. Handley relies on her precise scheduling, teachers weekly announcements, and emailing her teacher when need be, to keep her on track.

“Being able to do my work anywhere at any time is a big positive. My biggest challenge is procrastination, but to help with that I allow myself to purchase something big when I get all my schoolwork done,” junior Evelyn Journagan said.

Procrastination is something most students struggle with. In on campus classes, but online classes tend to make procrastination habits worse for students. Journagan is supportive of online classes, but dislikes some of the teaching methods that come with them, such as discussion boards and a larger and sometimes quicker flowing workload. An online class can greatly benefit most students, but you must be willing to stay on top of the workload.

“We don’t deduct late points, allowing students to have the whole semester to submit their work. This is especially nice for our students who have health issues or for those who travel a lot,” Launch english and reading teacher Mrs. Layman said.

Commonly the greatest benefit is the flexibility not only for students but teachers as well.

“Since I’m a live teacher, the main issues I run into are getting students to turn their cameras on and basic tech issues,” Layman said.

Teaching “live” is when a teacher is teaching full time Launch students through Zoom. The most common form of online instruction for our student body is remote learning. Remote learning allows students to work at their own pace with the help of teacher videos, but there are no required Zoom calls or meetings unless the student requests one.

   “For assessments, students complete quizzes, tests. As for grading, we are required to grade assignments within 48 hours of submission. I keep a checklist and work  through that to ensure I get everything done.” Layman said.

   One of the advantages for students is their work being graded within a 48 hour time frame no matter when or how much they submit at once.

Allowing grades to rise much more quickly, while letting students complete things at their own pace. Although these courses are online, students are still required to complete various state issues tests, along with teachers quizzes and tests of choice.

“If a student is having a tech issue I have them contact tech support on Canvas. As far as personal tech issues I try to multitask as much as possible and get help from other teachers,” Layman said.

Students experiencing issues with their technology are usually asked to click the orange “Tech Support” button on the left side of their canvas homescreen. The Tech Support button offers a live chat to help you work through the issues you are experiencing.

“All of the Canvas courses are pushed out by our amazing Development Team. Each section of the class has identical information so that students all over Missouri are getting the same resources, no matter where they live or who the teacher for the class is,” Layman said.

All students can also access a Canvas course named “Online Resources,” which provides guidance on navigating Canvas, submitting assignments and discussions, uploading documents, etc.

“Typically my live students have positive feedback. They enjoy getting to do their classes from home with the support of a teacher in real time,” Layman said.

Students tend to do very well when able to talk to their teachers live over Zoom. Students in remote learning courses also have this option by entering a tutoring Zoom usually held by their teacher after school or requesting a Zoom meeting time.

Online/ Launch classes offer a flexible and convenient way to pursue education, allowing students to learn at their own pace and from any location. However, they also present challenges such as the need for increased self-discipline, potential technical issues, and a lack of face-to-face interaction. Balancing these pros and cons is essential for students to make the most of their online learning experience.