By Paige Cooper ’16, Staff Writer

On the snowiest, coldest days of this record-breaking winter, students at Newark Academy wait for a call from Mr. Austin announcing a snow day all afternoon. Yet, this term, a bittersweet addition has been tacked on to the automated message that students so fervently anticipate: “Online classes will be posted on Canvas and your teachers will inform you on the rest.” While some glitches have occurred, online classes give students the opportunity to keep up with their schoolwork and not stress about falling behind, while still enjoying a day off.

Because of the high number of snow days this year (five at the time this article was written), Dr. DiBianca recently announced that from now on, snow days this semester will be “distance learning days.” Synchronized classes follow the 90-minute delay schedule. The conferences are set up as video chats with the option to just use audio. Teachers are able to show presentations and speak at the same time, while students can press a button to “raise their hand” and comment. A side chat box is another feature that allows students to comment and ask questions on the lesson being taught. Some glitches have occurred during online courses, including echoes from microphones, chat boxes “freezing,” and issues loading PowerPoints or other media. While online classes are not required, many teachers use them so that classes do not fall behind. Other teachers opt to keep up with the material through asynchronous assignments rather than live class sessions, by setting up discussion boards or posting worksheets.

Sophomore Cameron Sadeghi best summarized popular opinion of the online classes. He stated, “While most students want to enjoy their day off, the online classes make sense in the long run.” Students can still attend their classes and then complete the rest of their work after. Other students feel that they have enough work to catch up on during snow days because of the rigorous workload at school, and that they should be able to use the day off as a “catch up” day. As sophomore Paige Willian explained, “I would rather work on my own time than be stressed with time constraints and still have other assignments left to do.”

In fact, some students have found distance learning days to be even more stressful than actual school days. Distractions at home make completing assignments much more difficult. The conditions at home are not ideal when trying to get assignments done, as school days are much more structured. In class, there are no distractions, say from loud siblings or music in other parts of the house, while typing an essay or reading textbook pages. Students and teachers both agree that school days remain much more beneficial in terms of productivity.

 While distance learning days may be upsetting news to some students, they are a relatively pleasant measure compared to the dreadful bonus periods of last year. Even with the few glitches on Canvas and some miscommunication online, the technology team is working on improving distance learning days. Waking up to a web conference may not seem like an ideal way to spend a snow day, but this unique, high-tech development in school policy creates a balance between safety, productivity, and enjoyment. Distance learning days keep us off the treacherous roads without extending the following school days. They keep us focused on school — though we may be in our pajamas.