A Classroom Beyond the Screen

By Abigael Mutua Ngina 

When my school first announced that some of our lessons would move online, I was excited. The idea of attending class in comfortable clothes, replaying recorded lectures, and studying from home sounded perfect. For a while, it even felt like the future had arrived. But as weeks passed, I began to realize something important: education is not just about convenience. It is about connection.

During online classes, I noticed how quiet everything felt. Cameras were off. Microphones were muted. When the teacher asked a question, there was often a long silence before someone responded. It was nothing like our physical classroom, where hands shot up, debates sparked naturally, and laughter filled the room. In person, learning felt alive. Online, it sometimes felt distant.

One day, our internet connection went out during an important lesson. I panicked, worried about missing key information. That moment made me think about how dependent we had become on technology. While online classes offer flexibility and access to recorded materials, they also come with distractions and technical challenges. It is easy to lose focus when notifications pop up or when home does not feel like a place of study.

However, I cannot deny the benefits of online learning. When I struggled with a math topic, I appreciated being able to replay the recorded explanation. I also enjoyed exploring interactive simulations that made science lessons more visual and engaging. Online tools opened doors to resources beyond our textbooks.

Still, when we finally returned to our physical classroom, something felt complete again. I could ask my teacher questions directly and understand her explanations not just through words, but through gestures and expressions. Group discussions flowed more naturally. Working on projects with classmates face-to-face strengthened our teamwork and communication skills in a way that video calls never fully did.

Through this experience, I formed a strong opinion: online classes should support physical classes, not replace them. Technology is a powerful tool, but it cannot replace the warmth of human interaction or the social growth that happens in a shared space. The best education combines both worlds—the flexibility of online learning and the engagement of in-person teaching.

In the end, I realized that a screen can deliver information, but a classroom builds relationships, confidence, and character. And those are lessons no internet connection can fully provide.