Online V.S In-person Learning
October 2021
By Natalia Montoya
In the past year, ways of education and schooling have changed drastically. As you may know, last school year’s classes were primarily taught from remote learning and this affected many students and teachers in various ways. This article will discuss some of the major differences between remote learning and in-person learning. Starting with preference, then to mental health, attention span, grades, and other opinions. I have gathered information from both students and teachers to seek out responses to my questions: "Is online or in-person school better?", "What are the pros and cons to each?", and "What does the majority prefer?" I have conducted research from a survey that I created and sent to our students. I also have gotten information from two separate interviews from a student and a teacher.
Everyone is different; that is something we can all agree on, and from this, we can gather that everyone learns and retains information differently. Last year changed students in numerous ways such as mental health, grades, their social skills and much more. I wanted to know how people from our school students and teachers alike are doing compared to last year. I have conducted a survey form our students and was quite surprised with the results. I surveyed 13 of our students. For starters, 76.9% of our students prefer in- person classes, 76.9% of students also pay better attention to in-person schooling. 53.8% of our students said that their grades are better during in-person classes.
Mental health, in my opinion, is one of the major factors in our life that has a huge impact on us as humans. It can impact every aspect of our lives--and not just our actual mental health. When things change and situations arise, our mental health changes as well depending on our liking to the situation. Meaning that if we like the change, our mental health improves; for example, many students liked online learning and really benefited from the one-on-one contact which reduced stress and better mental health. One of my most important questions in my survey was if students' mental health is better during in-person schooling or remote learning. The survey revealed that their mental health is better now that we have in-person learning. The reason for this is depicted in human interaction. As humans, we need interaction with other humans.
Last year, interaction with others was highly limited, as friendships were not as strong, due to the lack of seeing one another face to face. This had huge impacts on our students. My student interviewee also mentioned that online learning made students more self-conscious about speaking aloud and public speaking. The homework was also somewhat hard to complete; staring at a screen for eight hours has an impact on your mental health. Students became tired very easily and homework was lacking (according to a teacher that I interviewed). This teacher also said “as a teacher I could tell that my students were not performing as they should; during online learning, their will to work highly decreased and there was not as much effort put into assignments”. This type of schooling does not work for everyone, but it can be very beneficial to some students.
Even though there are a lot of cons to online learning, there are also many pros, and many students excel in remote learning; it opened up new opportunities through technology. It also allowed students and teachers to have more one-on-one teaching opportunities as well. With the rise in technology, it has allowed many opportunities to use it in the classroom. Definitely some benefits of online learning include no paper trails, so no papers can get lost or destroyed. One teacher I have interviewed mentioned that the classroom has become much more organized and efficient.
There are pros and cons to each way of teaching; everyone is different and everyone learns differently. Although, from my research through surveys and interviews, I have come to the conclusion that in-person schooling is better for students' mental health, grades, attention span, and ability of social interaction. Both sides have their pros and cons as to everything in life but the data showed that it is more beneficial for students to be in person while learning. Nevertheless, without remote learning, our classrooms would most likely be more cluttered and disorganized because there would be papers everywhere. So in a way, it is good that we are using more technology throughout the classroom to keep it as efficient as possible. Without remote learning last year I highly doubt that the classroom would have the technology that it uses today, with all the students having their own computers. In a way I say that the remote learning was a good way to open up new opportunities for teachers and students, even under the circumstances it was highly beneficial. Although my results say that in-person learning is overall better for students, having more technology use in the classroom is more efficient then having many wandering papers, notebooks etc. So, in a way remote learning has helped us immensely when it comes to how we teach in the classroom now, and it leads us to probably the most efficient way by having more technology in the classrooms while having in-person learning.
October 2021
By Natalia Montoya
In the past year, ways of education and schooling have changed drastically. As you may know, last school year’s classes were primarily taught from remote learning and this affected many students and teachers in various ways. This article will discuss some of the major differences between remote learning and in-person learning. Starting with preference, then to mental health, attention span, grades, and other opinions. I have gathered information from both students and teachers to seek out responses to my questions: "Is online or in-person school better?", "What are the pros and cons to each?", and "What does the majority prefer?" I have conducted research from a survey that I created and sent to our students. I also have gotten information from two separate interviews from a student and a teacher.
Everyone is different; that is something we can all agree on, and from this, we can gather that everyone learns and retains information differently. Last year changed students in numerous ways such as mental health, grades, their social skills and much more. I wanted to know how people from our school students and teachers alike are doing compared to last year. I have conducted a survey form our students and was quite surprised with the results. I surveyed 13 of our students. For starters, 76.9% of our students prefer in- person classes, 76.9% of students also pay better attention to in-person schooling. 53.8% of our students said that their grades are better during in-person classes.
Mental health, in my opinion, is one of the major factors in our life that has a huge impact on us as humans. It can impact every aspect of our lives--and not just our actual mental health. When things change and situations arise, our mental health changes as well depending on our liking to the situation. Meaning that if we like the change, our mental health improves; for example, many students liked online learning and really benefited from the one-on-one contact which reduced stress and better mental health. One of my most important questions in my survey was if students' mental health is better during in-person schooling or remote learning. The survey revealed that their mental health is better now that we have in-person learning. The reason for this is depicted in human interaction. As humans, we need interaction with other humans.
Last year, interaction with others was highly limited, as friendships were not as strong, due to the lack of seeing one another face to face. This had huge impacts on our students. My student interviewee also mentioned that online learning made students more self-conscious about speaking aloud and public speaking. The homework was also somewhat hard to complete; staring at a screen for eight hours has an impact on your mental health. Students became tired very easily and homework was lacking (according to a teacher that I interviewed). This teacher also said “as a teacher I could tell that my students were not performing as they should; during online learning, their will to work highly decreased and there was not as much effort put into assignments”. This type of schooling does not work for everyone, but it can be very beneficial to some students.
Even though there are a lot of cons to online learning, there are also many pros, and many students excel in remote learning; it opened up new opportunities through technology. It also allowed students and teachers to have more one-on-one teaching opportunities as well. With the rise in technology, it has allowed many opportunities to use it in the classroom. Definitely some benefits of online learning include no paper trails, so no papers can get lost or destroyed. One teacher I have interviewed mentioned that the classroom has become much more organized and efficient.
There are pros and cons to each way of teaching; everyone is different and everyone learns differently. Although, from my research through surveys and interviews, I have come to the conclusion that in-person schooling is better for students' mental health, grades, attention span, and ability of social interaction. Both sides have their pros and cons as to everything in life but the data showed that it is more beneficial for students to be in person while learning. Nevertheless, without remote learning, our classrooms would most likely be more cluttered and disorganized because there would be papers everywhere. So in a way, it is good that we are using more technology throughout the classroom to keep it as efficient as possible. Without remote learning last year I highly doubt that the classroom would have the technology that it uses today, with all the students having their own computers. In a way I say that the remote learning was a good way to open up new opportunities for teachers and students, even under the circumstances it was highly beneficial. Although my results say that in-person learning is overall better for students, having more technology use in the classroom is more efficient then having many wandering papers, notebooks etc. So, in a way remote learning has helped us immensely when it comes to how we teach in the classroom now, and it leads us to probably the most efficient way by having more technology in the classrooms while having in-person learning.
Dropping out of school...will they regret it?
May, 2021
By Dulce Arevalo
What are the consequences on dropping out of school?
High school is supposed to be the time of our lives. Sure, for some, high school is 4 years full of new friends and maintaining knowledge. Yet, for others, it’s a dreadful time complete with bullying, complications, and being described as an outcast.
Ariana, who dropped out of school due to bullying had many problems, even with her friends and family. She mentioned that she feels as if people look at her like she is nothing but a delinquent who didn’t have it in her to finish school. She was smart enough, and she indeed had every intention to finish, but the cause of it was bullying. At age 17, she made the choice to quit school because she couldn't handle it. She tried online at first, but since she was allowed to make her own decisions, she chose to drop out, which was the worst decision she could make. She struggled to make enough money to pay for her apartment and to put food on her table. She said that it felt like it was just in the room with many responsibilities but with no job and no diploma.
After Ariana struggled for some time, she decided to go back to school. She knew that that wasn't the life she wanted to have; she had to make a change for herself and her future, and she wanted to make all those people who talked badly about her to see that she can do it. As she did, she made her life better for her future. She said “Yeah, high school can get rough and there is always going to be people talking, but they're there for you so you can have a good future for yourself, so don't let people drop you and drag you from what you want to do. It's you against the world; make good decisions and go to college and think before you do, because one decision can change your life forever."
After talking to Ariana and asking her a few questions she gave me the best advice to not let people get to you, and that you're in it for yourself because no one's gonna going to do it for you. While asking her questions, I mentioned, “What were some of the consequences of not having a high school diploma? In her opinion, she mentioned that without a high school diploma, you cannot get a good job. She said she had to work in fast food for 6 months until she made up her mind to go back to school and make things right for herself. Another question I chose to ask was "After your family and friends said that about you and found out you went back to school to turn your life around, what did they do?" She said that if they didn't support her in making that decision on dropping out then she shouldn't be concerned if she wanted to go back or not. It was her choice to go back, and she did. She said that when she dropped out her family and friends disappeared like nothing and once they found out she was going back and going to college they tried to get close to her. But she knew she was going to do this for her and make herself proud and to become something good in life.
After Ariana made up her mind to become a better person and be someone better in life she accomplished her goals by graduation from UNM in 2018 and plans to become a dentist, not just making herself proud, but also making her family and friends proud, therefore making her dreams and goals come true after dropping out of school. She had to thank her parents and friends after, because they all knew that wasn't a good idea but she now understands why they didn't support her in dropping out of school.
I conducted a survey and many teenagers believed that dropping out of high school is good for some people, depending on the circumstances. Alex Martinez, who goes to Santa Fe high, chose to take my survey. Martinez said that his mother dropped out of high school due to the lack of not having enough money for clothes and school supplies. She had no other choice but to drop out of high school. Her goal was to become someone good in life and not struggle. As Alex told me about her struggles, she decided to get a job at McDonald's to start off, and later at Taco Bell. Eventually, she was working three jobs so she could pay for college. She worked extra shifts just to make her parents proud. Alex finally got a house, had four amazing kids with her husband, and has her cars and house paid for, after going to school and becoming a lawyer.
Many people have a way of judging people by their cover, but you never know what may be the cause of their situation or why they did the things they did. After making a wrong decision and making it right, Alex changed her life forever; after having people doubt them, she and countless others still managed to be successful. As they say, “never judge a book by its cover!”
Dual Credit Registration
Here is the info for Luna Community College registration. Be sure to keep Ms. Cramer in the loop!
online application - click here to apply online
[email protected] - send official transcript to this email address to complete admissions
Geraldine D. Saavedra
Luna Community College
Dual Enrollment and Transfer Coordinator
[email protected]
505.454.5308
Benefits of a Spelling Bee
By Taya Martinez
What exactly is a spelling bee and what would be the benefits of having one in our high school? A spelling bee is a contest in which participants are asked to spell words in a round-robin format, where each person gets a turn to spell a word that is suitable for his or her level in reading/writing.
You might not think that there are many reasons to have a spelling bee, but there actually are. For example, they extend beyond language: since children are required to spell words while on stage, kids also develop self-confidence, communication, and public speaking skills, and they acquire the ability to thrive under pressure.
At PISD, our Elementary and Middle schools participate in competitions such as these, but these competitions end after 8th grade, which is sad because many kids love participating in this spelling activity. The lessons learned by participating in a spelling bee can therefore last a lifetime, and can benefit even those who don't outlast all competitors.
Brain Drain!
By Jasmine Quintana
High school can be very stressful for students. In order to graduate high school, you have to earn a certain amount of credits each semester and in order to earn credits, you have to keep your grades up. Keeping your grades up can add a lot of stress in students' lives and many students struggle with their classes.
I conducted a survey around my school (Pecos High School) and asked freshman through senior students, “What classes do you have the most trouble in?” I Found out that students have lots of struggles in math class. Many students told me that they understand the work, but can't keep their grades up, or that they don't understand the work, but manage to get a good grade. Students also told me that this added extra stress in their lives.
Having low grades can have consequences. Students are not allowed to play sports or participate in certain activities when having a low grade; this is what is the stressful part. But what are the ways that students are getting help with classes they are having trouble in? I asked students “Who pushes you to do better in these classes?” The most common answer that I received was that they motivate themselves to do better. Self motivation may seem like a good thing, but most students have low grades because of the lack of support from others.
Students need more support when it comes to their success. Students need people to push them to do better when it comes to school work. We need to try to focus on the well being of our students, because students make up the future.
By Jasmine Quintana
High school can be very stressful for students. In order to graduate high school, you have to earn a certain amount of credits each semester and in order to earn credits, you have to keep your grades up. Keeping your grades up can add a lot of stress in students' lives and many students struggle with their classes.
I conducted a survey around my school (Pecos High School) and asked freshman through senior students, “What classes do you have the most trouble in?” I Found out that students have lots of struggles in math class. Many students told me that they understand the work, but can't keep their grades up, or that they don't understand the work, but manage to get a good grade. Students also told me that this added extra stress in their lives.
Having low grades can have consequences. Students are not allowed to play sports or participate in certain activities when having a low grade; this is what is the stressful part. But what are the ways that students are getting help with classes they are having trouble in? I asked students “Who pushes you to do better in these classes?” The most common answer that I received was that they motivate themselves to do better. Self motivation may seem like a good thing, but most students have low grades because of the lack of support from others.
Students need more support when it comes to their success. Students need people to push them to do better when it comes to school work. We need to try to focus on the well being of our students, because students make up the future.
Should schools use tablets instead of textbooks?
By Cindy Perez
Should schools use tablets and the internet instead of writing notes and homework? Schools have been using paper ever since the dawn of education. Many school boards think that using tablets and computers are bad for the students, but some think that tablets and computers are better and easier. Tablets and computers will eliminate the waste of paper. Tablets can also increase efficiency, as teachers can send students homework, project details, or other information students need to know. Students will have everything they need right on their personal tablet.
The benefits of using tablets instead of textbooks are that tablets are so much lighter than printed textbooks. Unlimited PDF formats can be stored in one hard drive, and students wouldn't need to carry so many books. NeaToday states that tablets “ have the ability to expand memory to hold even more information, and are cheaper than textbooks.” Norfolk Junior High in Nebraska said that a small group of students used the tablets and made huge progress in their grades. NeaToday also states that “Another factor making tablets irresistible is that with more open-source material available to educators school districts don’t necessarily need to buy textbooks.”
The doubts of having tablets in school can be very difficult for kids that are using them and the school that bought them. Some of the reasons that tablets can be hard for kids is that, if the school wants the kids to pay for the tablets to use, some of the kids might not have enough money for them to rent them. Fratcion4kids.com states that tablets can be very expensive for schools. “This may make it beyond the reach of some schools who deal with tight budgets and lack of any sponsorship.” Tablets can be a bad thing because, if some schools let the kids take the tablets, students could possibly lose them. Parents would have to pay for the lost equipment. Another concern is that kids might download inappropriate or dangerous content. Unapproved downloads or physical abuse to the computers may cause expensive damages, which would ultimately cost the schools extra money.
If schools are going to provide tablets they must assure that they understand all of the possible benefits and repercussions.There will always be those parents who would like their students to have tablets, while many would prefer their children not to have tablets.
It seems that Schools should at least have an option for students to use a tablet. A school may offer the tablet as a choice, only to students who maintain the appropriate grades to continue use of the tablet. A required contract should be signed for the student to include the appropriate terms of use of the tablet, and the students would need this signed by a guardian, and be required to abide by all of the contract criteria. This would be a great way to reward students who perform at a high level and would like to have the use of a tablet for their schoolwork.
By Cindy Perez
Should schools use tablets and the internet instead of writing notes and homework? Schools have been using paper ever since the dawn of education. Many school boards think that using tablets and computers are bad for the students, but some think that tablets and computers are better and easier. Tablets and computers will eliminate the waste of paper. Tablets can also increase efficiency, as teachers can send students homework, project details, or other information students need to know. Students will have everything they need right on their personal tablet.
The benefits of using tablets instead of textbooks are that tablets are so much lighter than printed textbooks. Unlimited PDF formats can be stored in one hard drive, and students wouldn't need to carry so many books. NeaToday states that tablets “ have the ability to expand memory to hold even more information, and are cheaper than textbooks.” Norfolk Junior High in Nebraska said that a small group of students used the tablets and made huge progress in their grades. NeaToday also states that “Another factor making tablets irresistible is that with more open-source material available to educators school districts don’t necessarily need to buy textbooks.”
The doubts of having tablets in school can be very difficult for kids that are using them and the school that bought them. Some of the reasons that tablets can be hard for kids is that, if the school wants the kids to pay for the tablets to use, some of the kids might not have enough money for them to rent them. Fratcion4kids.com states that tablets can be very expensive for schools. “This may make it beyond the reach of some schools who deal with tight budgets and lack of any sponsorship.” Tablets can be a bad thing because, if some schools let the kids take the tablets, students could possibly lose them. Parents would have to pay for the lost equipment. Another concern is that kids might download inappropriate or dangerous content. Unapproved downloads or physical abuse to the computers may cause expensive damages, which would ultimately cost the schools extra money.
If schools are going to provide tablets they must assure that they understand all of the possible benefits and repercussions.There will always be those parents who would like their students to have tablets, while many would prefer their children not to have tablets.
It seems that Schools should at least have an option for students to use a tablet. A school may offer the tablet as a choice, only to students who maintain the appropriate grades to continue use of the tablet. A required contract should be signed for the student to include the appropriate terms of use of the tablet, and the students would need this signed by a guardian, and be required to abide by all of the contract criteria. This would be a great way to reward students who perform at a high level and would like to have the use of a tablet for their schoolwork.
In Hopes of a Woodworks Club
By Santino Garcia
What kinds of hobbies do you have that may be connected to a future career? As a Pecos High School student, I would love to have a wood works club, I think a big reason kids fall asleep in class and don't pay attention is because there always having to take notes, study, and do homework. All of that stuff is super boring, so if they had an after school activity or club such as wood works, this could get students excited for school because they have something to look forward to other than going home.
Woodworking is the activity or skill of making items from wood, and includes cabinet making (cabinetry and furniture), wood carving, joinery, carpentry, and wood turning.
The school district does not have funding to offer as many electives as students would like. This is why establishing clubs might be a potential alternative option for such activities. If there are any volunteers in the community who could teach or sponsor us so we may offer a woodworking club, we would love to have this after school activity. Anyone that may be interested in volunteering, please contact Mr. Faunt at the email address below:
[email protected]
I have recently interviewed some students and some alumni from Pecos Independent Schools.
One alumni stated, “Any after school program that would interest the students would be highly beneficial. It will keep students occupied, as well as teach students a new skill set for future use.”
Another alumni stated “I used to take a wood works class and I had a lot of fun, and I think one thing wrong with schools these days is that they have nothing fun to do. Some people have health problems that do not allow them to participate in the activities and some kids do not enjoy playing instruments. All they have in these schools are P.E. and music and I looked forward to school, because we had wood works and steel classes. This would make the kids happy and make school fun.”
A student mentioned “I feel that a wood works club would be super fun, and many people would enjoy it. If we enjoy it, we could possibly pursue a career in architecture or woodworking."
Out of the 28 people I surveyed, 24 would like to have a wood works club.
The information I have provided demonstrates that a wood works club would be a beneficial addition to the Pecos Independent Schools. Hopefully, this may be a possibility in the future.