Picture this: summer has come to an end, school is starting up, but instead of sitting in a typical classroom, cooled to 64 degrees like usual, class is now accessible from the comfort of a bed, couch, favorite coffee shop, or even the beaches of California. While this may have sounded like a dream a year ago, this is now considered the new normal, and very possible, as school starts back up across the country during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Arizona State University was among the large group of universities forced to shut down in-person classes during the spring semester, offering the remainder of the class curriculum via an online learning system.
Now, as the fall semester is in full swing after starting on Aug. 20, in-person classes were back in session, offered through a hybrid format. The hybrid system allows the course to be taught in both a classroom and online setting. A number of students are able to meet in the classroom on a designated day, with the remainder of the class meeting online. This ensures all CDC guidelines and protocols are being followed, while also allowing students to continue to learn in the traditional setting.
All hybrid courses are also capable of being an all-remote system as well. With "ASU Sync", ASU's new online learning system, students are able to attend class by logging in through Zoom, a video conferencing program founded in 2011.
This new way of attending class, without physically being there, has allowed more flexibility and freedom to students, in regards to where they are while they are "in class".
The only requirement to connect through Zoom is Internet connection, and for many in this day and age of technology with smartphones, that is easy to come by.
As the country starts to open back up and airports are offering more flights, some at cheaper fares than usual, one can't help but wonder if the combination of reduced fares and a more flexible time schedule with classes is increasing the travel rate among students.
In a recent poll taken on Instagram extended to a vast collection of students across the country, out of 167 students, 90 of them said they have traveled during the pandemic and attended class from a different location.
While this is only a sample, it shows that traveling and attending class has been a trend.
According to Phoenix Sky Harbor Public Information Officer, Heather Shelbrack, in August "there was a 61.4% decrease in total passengers compared to August 2019."
However, while September flight statistics will not be available until the end of October, Shelbrack did say that Labor Day Weekend brought in the highest amount of air traffic since the shutdown, but was "still down 39% compared to peak days in 2019."
This new online way of learning has also brought in questions of whether or not tuition would be lowered, as classes are not being taught in the traditional format like in previous years.
In a statement sent out in April by Michael Crow, ASU's president, he addressed the topic of tuition by saying at the time, they are "not advancing any tuition change" for both undergraduate and graduate students.
No plans regarding differing tuition for the current school year were announced as the fall semester is already halfway through.
ASU remains in "Learning Mode 2", the continuation of hybrid classes throughout the semester. This system will remain in place until Thanksgiving, after ASU announced the fall semester's finals week is canceled, pushing all final exams and assignments up, with all classes taught remotely for the final week of school, Nov. 30 through Dec. 4.
Learning Mode 2 will be carried onto the spring semester, continuing the use of hybrid classes, according to ASU Provost Mark Searle.
