Macy Love, the Department of Geography’s work-study student, is majoring in history, but also loves geography. She has taken several classes in geography at Mizzou and plans on taking several more before she graduates, perhaps even minoring in the discipline.

Love tells us how the student role is going since the university moved to online classes in March.

Geography: How are you adjusting to studying from home? What are some of the challenges you face?

Love: Adjusting to online classes has been a challenge for me personally because I am a student that thrives in a structured environment. Online classes have forced me to take charge of my education and create a learning schedule for myself and to become more self-motivated in learning.

Geography: What is the most interesting aspect of going to school from home?

Love: Watching my professors adapt to an online platform has been interesting. Some of my classes are still very traditional (recorded lectures and papers for assignments), while others have taken a new approach through group projects and utilizing Zoom.

Geography: Are you adjusting well? What were the first few days of classes like?

Love: In my opinion my peers and I have adjusted as well as can be expected in such a short amount of time. The first few days of classes were full of adjustments, new syllabi and patience on both ends.

Geography: Do you find it a more relaxed setting? Or is it a little stressful? Or both?

Love: Personally, I find online school more stressful because it can be hard to find an environment in your home that you can dedicate to learning when you share your home with others who are trying to accomplish the same thing. I am definitely missing Ellis Library for study hours!

Geography: How are your instructors doing in the transition?

Love: The history department heavily relies upon discussion and lecture; very few of my professors had ventured into online learning before this. That being said, I think they have faced the challenge incredibly gracefully by fostering an online environment that promotes discussion as much, if not more than, there would have been in person.

Geography: Do you find you have more time on your hands for homework?

Love: In some ways yes, I have more time for homework however, some of my classes have had to add new assignments to make up for attendance and discussion classes making the course load a little heavier than it would have been in person.

Geography: How do other students you talk to feel about this option?

Love: Most students that I have spoken to miss campus and the learning environment that comes with in-person classes. Some of my peers have lost their jobs and been forced to move home which has made their transition to online school difficult.

Geography: When this pandemic is over, do you think you’ll take more online classes? Or is the classroom the future for you?

Love:  No, I most likely will not be taking online courses in the future. I know that I learn best when my education is structured for me as well as my education being a separate environment from my home.

Geography: Anything else you’d like to add?

Love: These are incredibly challenging times for everyone, students and professors are learning and adapting to a new learning platform so we have to give each other patience and pull together as a university to get through this the best we can.