Some Eastern students feel the change to online-only classes will not be a challenge at all, but others are skeptical going into the remaining five weeks.

Marissa Routien, a senior elementary education major, said she thought her classes went pretty well for the first day. She spent most of her time catching up on emails and making sure she had all her assignments organized for the week.

Routien said she is not a fan of having her classes online and that she would rather have her classes in person. 

“As an education major, our classes are in person typically along with being in practicum. Practicum was cancelled and it scares me going into student teaching but I’m sure that everything will be okay,” Routien said.

Sophomore criminology/sociology major Taylor Comer said she feels neutral about having to take her classes online.

“Most of them are just reading and discussion based but it’ll definitely be harder to grasp some of the concepts without in-person examples and availability to ask questions,” Comer said.

She said she would not call it challenging but it will take some time to get used to doing schoolwork online. She feels it might affect her grades as well.

“I have taken online classes before and while I do well in them my grades are normally higher when it’s an in-person class,” Comer said.

Senior fashion merchandising and design major Centori Currin said some of his professors were clear on instructions for the remainder of the semester but some were not which makes it difficult for him.

“I think it’s because they (professors) never use D2L so they’re not really use to it. But I’ve had to email a couple to ask for further instructions,” Currin said.

He said he does not believe the remainder of the semester will be a challenge since professors might be a lot more lenient when it comes to grading because everything was moved online in a short amount of time.

He said even though he was supposed to be in the commencement this year, he does not care that he will not be able to walk the stage.

“I just want to leave. It’s my family that cares more,” Currin said.

He said he does not plan to come back in December, but if his family wants to see him walk the stage than he will be back for the fall commencement. 

Senior history/social studies secondary education major Steven Forsythe said he’s taken online classes before but never this many classes at once.

“I think it will be a challenge for me honestly, the amount of work is fairly intimidating. I just hope that it’ll work out by me following directions. I can do the work whenever I can within the due dates set, so it’s a bit more flexible and making it a little easier on that end. But I think something is definitely lost by not having that in person class with classmates, GA’s and professors in there with us able to adjust and help on the spot,” Forsythe said.

Jelan Buchanan can be reached at 581-2812 or at jjbuchanan@eiu.edu.