The concept itself is not new, but for many students it is. Most of us until now have been undergoing the traditional form of in-person education. The interaction students have with each other and lecturers is invaluable, hence this shift is a daunting one. The biggest concern I have gotten from my peers, and one I share myself, is that of the communication barrier that the distance learning brings. We are used to explaining our ideas with an amalgamation of gestures, illustration, words and even how these words are said. These layers of conveying meaning are completely lost when we take education digital. Now we are only left with the words. It lessens the efficacy of the communication as compared to the in-person method, especially for students who are not as skilled at the precision of language and getting their points across with words. Students are afraid they will not be able to relay their questions and ideas effectively and in return will not receive the answer they seek.
Another big worry for students is time and pacing. These are two very big issues. I think I speak for a lot of students when I say we do not want to extend the academic year and consequently the length of study. A friend even said (half-joking, half-serious) she would rather be in class over Christmas than extend the year. Many are also afraid of the pace of how this will go. Some are concerned we will not have enough time to adjust adequately to the new learning environment. Another student has even stated that they are content with having no more recess periods if it meant the pace could be such that the change is well-cushioned.
All in all, students are anxious. University is hard enough without an ongoing pandemic shifting every aspect of our reality. This change is daunting but we are up to the challenge and hope our lecturers are as understanding and accommodating as we will be with them. This is new ground for a lot of us involved in tertiary education and it will take a team effort to overcome the obstacles.