Virtual World & It's Impact (presentation 2) by Isabelle Greiner

With the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, our worlds were flipped upside down. Suddenly, we became more attached to devices, I know I did. Depending on them for work and/or school, entertainment, and communication. A reliance that carries on even nearly two years after its commencement. While the internet helped us stay connected (no pun intended), it also brought about issues especially related to mental health. 

In our second presentation, we delve into the topic of mental health, ways to cope, seek help, and more. My group stuck with the technological perspective, in investigating how the internet both positively and negatively impacted those with disabilities. While John introduced the benefits and disadvantages to virtual learning, I expanded by talking about students’ and staff's perspectives of their virtual learning experiences. Heyner introduced how to use the internet to your advantage, while J.P. talked about virtual resources to help you excel in the virtual classroom. Finally, Joe dove into economic disparities, and the new age has affected those given unequal opportunities due to their financial situation. 

But let's break this down a little more…

Internet:

Advantages	Disadvantages
Accessibility to classes Elimination of judgment	Accommodations Help and interactions

I know these are quite broad topics, and depending on the student certain advantages and disadvantages can be reversed from how I placed them in the chart.

1. Accessibility to classes

Students with physical disabilities may have more access to classes as they can navigate virtually from one class to another with more ease. 

For example, you have a 9AM class that ends at 9:50am but the only available statistics class for your level starts at 10am that same day, on the third floor of the building across campus from where you are. While you and I could possibly run or speed walk to be on time, someone with a physical disability might not be able to make it on time.

 With virtual learning, students, and not just those with disabilities, have access to more. Take me for example. I am a student at the Kendall campus taking this class from Hialeah. In what world would I be able to take a class at a campus nearly 20 minutes away(on a good day with no traffic) from my campus, to then be back at Kendall for a class starting 15 minutes after this one. It's not physically possible, so… 

Thanks, Internet! 👍

2. Elimination of judgment 

While it can be an advantage and disadvantage, when I say “Elimination of judgment” it is referring to the fact that in a virtual class, you don’t know, and hardly ever get to know, the person behind the screens and what they have to deal with. 

Again, someone with certain disabilities could benefit from this virtual age because people are not allowed to judge their appearance or notice their disabilities. 

However, some disabilities make virtual learning possibly even more difficult than in-person learning. 

3. Accommodations/ Help and interactions

While in theory, everyone gets more equal treatment in a virtual classroom, that is not what others may need. Many students with disabilities require accommodations that can be difficult to provide virtually. 

Students that are deaf or hard of hearing may need an interpreter in class. Virtually, yes there are captions for some software but not for most and while students may ask for an accommodation to change software, some professors may/ are not willing to change their teaching methods. 

While visually impaired students can use text-to-speech voice diction, it can be difficult to navigate through a computer and keep up with class when everyone communicates through the class chat. 

As well as students with other disabilities. Some students do not feel comfortable telling a teacher or tutor that they have a disability but staff members can pick up on social cues and try to accommodate their material and work more closely with a student to help them better. 

Resources: 

Like J.P. mentioned in his presentation, students can use Google and set up their settings and software to help and accommodate it to them. You can add captions and voice diction via Google and it will help with any website you open through the browser.

Also, with a quick Google search, you can find help with anything you can think of. Tutors, jobs, internships, therapy, mental health via apps and personal pages, as well as different ways to cope whether it be more creatively or physically. With the internet, you have almost everything at your fingertips. 

(This message is not sponsored by Google). 

Mental Health:

During the pandemic, research came out showing the effects of virtual learning and lockdown had on the youth and developing young adults. Because these are the key ages to make connections and form friendships, many people fell into a depression and lost social skills that could be more difficult to acquire later as they age. 

However, with that came a normalization for carrying for your mental health, seeking help, therapy, and more. With not much to do, people tapped into their creative sides as a form of therapy to help deal with tough times. 

Like groups one and two covered in their discussions about mental health, and getting treated, here are some things to keep in mind as you take care of your own mental health.

1. Connect with others

2. Stay active

3. Eat well

4. Ask for help

5. Take a break

6. Journal

7. Do something you're good at

8. Learn something new

9. Accept who you are

10. Care for others

There are many ups and downs to a virtual world, but as humans, we adapt to living situations. If there’s anything these past two years have taught us, it is to adjust and adapt.