Nine months ago, we experienced unprecedented change. The infrastructure and systems that we relied on for our education no longer functioned in a safe manner. So we adapted, taking it upon ourselves to learn new technologies to stay connected. Yet we are still using our real-world solutions for what are now our virtual-world problems. We need a complete upheaval of our practices in order to adapt to this new world. The first step is, at least partially, requiring students to have their cameras on for distance learning.

Students with cameras on in class follow the same premise as in-person schooling for ensuring attendance. While in-person schooling had its own laundry list of issues, making sure that students were actually in attendance was not such a wide-spread issue. With students’ cameras being on, this issue is entirely negated as teachers can simply look at the faces of students and ensure that each student is present. Moreover, this will allow more class time for students to actually be learning rather than waiting for attendance to be finished.

Furthermore, students having their cameras on in class holds them accountable for doing their work in class. With the current model and rules imposed, there are very few checks and balances to keep students from simply sleeping while they should be working to possibly walking out of the room entirely and not being present for their Zoom class. With the ability for teachers to quickly glance at students and make sure that they are presently working, students will be held actively held accountable for doing their work.

In a study conducted in 2017 on the differences between online and in-person schools in Ohio, it was concluded that “students in e-schools and charter schools have lower baseline achievement than their peers in traditional public schools,” a clear demonstration that the preconceived methods for online schooling are inherently inferior to traditional schooling methods. Therefore, it is in our best interest to mimic traditional schooling through the use of our cameras while we are forced to do distance learning.

While having cameras on in class is certainly better, that’s not to say that students shouldn’t be able to turn their cameras off at all. Rather, there should be a widespread policy for all classes where video is mandatory for the first 10-15 minutes of each class, at which point it is up to the students.

We need to stop using short-term solutions for long-term problems. We need to start laying the foundation for our increasingly distant and virtual world, and there is no better way to start than by enforcing Zoom camera policies.

With a distance model implemented at Park and many other schools across the nation comes a serious issue: Should turning cameras on be mandatory?

There are a variety of reasons why students turn off their cameras, from not having a camera on their devices or general privacy issues. Some students study in places where they’d rather not turn on their cameras, like their bedroom or in a public area. 

It is understandable for many students to decide not to have their camera on during class. The concern with this is that students might not be focused on what’s going on during class. Giving check-ins during class can ensure students are actively participating instead of making it mandatory to turn on their cameras during class time.

Students can only use their cameras if their devices have the system requirements to do so. For students without the necessary technology, it creates a loophole that they can’t get out of. 

Zoom fatigue, which is a phenomenon caused by the fact that online video calls are much more draining than in-person lessons should be taken into consideration. Zoom fatigue is caused by the extra effort made to appear engaged, whether that be intense focus or sustained eye contact. Turning cameras off reduces the overall anxiety related to virtual classes.

Privacy is also a concern for many students, as many attend classes in their bedrooms or other areas where they would rather not show the background. With a surge in “Zoombombing,” students’ privacy is reduced even more, whereas with in-person classes, students don’t have to worry about their privacy. 

I totally understand where teachers and staff are coming from. Teaching to a screen of blank squares for up to eight hours a day is difficult, as teachers aren’t able to gauge how students are feeling during class. But punishing students who decide to keep their camera’s off is unjust. 

Instead of punishing students who don’t have their cameras on, checking in with students at the end of class would be more effective. Giving exit slips or short questions to answer in the chat are simple yet help teachers know if students are understanding what is being taught.

At the end of the day, it’s the students’ choice whether they turn their cameras on or not. Reprimanding those who observe their decision is unwarranted, and change must be brought in order to benefit both sides.