By: Nicole Artemyev 

Line O’ Type Focus Co-Editor

For the first time, Moline High School has undergone a dramatic change to its education structure to ensure safety for all students during the Covid-19 pandemic. Understanding the value of face-to-face learning between students and teachers, the 2020-2021 school year started off as a hybrid learning system that divided students into groups based on last names: A-group students attend in-class sessions on Mondays and Tuesdays, while B-group students attend on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Though attending school is an option, students also may choose to be full-remote learners from home as well. 

To make the transition to hybrid learning as smooth as possible, MHS has utilized many resources to help students get the proper education from their courses. Many teachers have relied primarily on Google Classroom, Google Meets, Khan Academy, Edgenuity, and AP Classroom. These easy-to-use programs allow students to communicate with their teachers, turn in assignments, and get access to learning materials. With attendance forms and Google Meet requirements, students are expected to treat e-learning as a normal class even though they may be at home.

Unexpectedly, MHS went fully-remote for two weeks at the end of September to keep staff and students safe after an uptick of students and staff tested positive for Covid-19. During these two weeks, students attended Google Meets during regular class hours, continued to take assessments, and progressed through their courses. With a semester worth of work squeezed into only nine weeks, it has been a fast-paced learning system for MHS staff and students. MHS senior, Treyvon Lee, explained in an interview that the most challenging part of e-learning is “staying on task and getting all your in-person homework done as well as your homework for other classes.” Lee is grateful that hybrid allows us to still “go to school and see friends and teachers,” even though it is not the same as years past. Similarly, senior Ally Gore reported that it is challenging to “teach yourself the material” on your own from home because it “demotivates you as a student.” On the other hand, Gore enjoys working on her own time and finds it easier to manage her schedule now. With the first quarter finished and the start of four new classes, we hope to keep the learning process happy and healthy whether we continue with the hybrid schedule or transition to the fully-remote model. With hopes for a “normal” spring school year, MHS may go back to full in-class days, but until then we are making the most out of this new situation.