Asynchronous learning’ is a phrase that was introduced to most of us last year when we were virtual during the pandemic. Every Wednesday, Shaler Area students and teachers would stay home to work on their assignments, catch up on missing work, or simply relax during free periods. Regardless of how you utilized asynchronous Wednesdays, they were extremely beneficial and need to be brought back.

Whether students were separated by cohorts for a hybrid instruction, learning virtually, or going to school four days a week, one thing remained constant: asynchronous Wednesdays. They usually went along the lines of “checking into class”, or joining a Google Meet for attendance, then leaving the call to work on the assignment. Students were also allowed to stay on the call if they needed to ask their teacher a question.

I really enjoyed the independence that asynchronous Wednesdays provided. In a way, I felt like they prepared me for what’s expected in college. I completed a lot of assignments on those days because I was able to work at my own pace from the comfort of my home and there weren’t any distractions from other students in school. I was also given the freedom to choose where I wanted to complete my schoolwork, whether that be in my bedroom, dining room, or even outside on nice days.

Not only were asynchronous Wednesdays beneficial, but they were also relaxing. You didn’t have to worry about getting ready for school, you could eat whenever you wanted, and you could sleep during free periods. Having this “break” in the middle of the week was very helpful for a lot of students, especially from a mental health perspective.

Although we have returned to some normalcy in everyday life, such as going to school in person, it’s important to recognize that many are still struggling with mental health problems, maybe even more so since we are back in school. It was a very hard adjustment for many students, myself included, to go from virtual learning to in-person school five days a week. I think that bringing back asynchronous Wednesdays would help a lot of students who are struggling to ease back into this routine, while also giving them a small break in the middle of the week.

“The weekly asynchronous days that we had last year provided a sorely needed respite from the daily grind of teaching and learning through the pandemic. The school district is responsible for providing an academically rigorous curriculum so that students are challenged to learn and grow as much as possible. However, we must also recognize the strain that the pandemic has placed on our mental and physical health,” Honors Anatomy & Physiology teacher Mr. Tim Taylor said.

Asynchronous Wednesdays could be renamed “wellness Wednesdays” or something to that effect. This gives it a more appealing name and could remind students to take care of themselves and prioritize their well being on those days.

Although I am glad to be in person again, I ultimately think that bringing back asynchronous Wednesdays, even if it is every other week, would be very beneficial to students and teachers.