COVID-19 started in 2019 along with remote learning and then hybrid learning began on January 25, 2021. The students had to start learning from home, which was hard at first because this was suddenly thrust upon the teachers and students. It was a work in progress. 

When we came back to school in remote form, it was different. It was like being at school without actually having to be inside the school, so it relatively felt normal. Hybrid learning started after this, it allowed kids to come into the school every other day, which are known as A and B days.  

I wanted to know what the difference between hybrid and remote was and which is better. When the first semester started, we all were in remote learning and then transitioned into hybrid learning in January and equally. 

“It has been kind of difficult to get a hold of my teachers, especially in the first semester,” senior Frank Agnello said. 

Now that we are at the heart of hybrid learning. 

 “[Everything] seems the same, you just sit in a classroom [at school] and [when doing remote] you basically sit in the zoom call and the teacher talks to you either way. If you are doing hybrid or remote, it’s literally like the same thing, it’s whether you want to be in the building or not, that’s the only difference,” Agnello said. 

The big difference between hybrid and remote is you get to be in the building. It is beneficial to be in person for many different reasons.

“Communication with teachers is a lot easier […] because you’re near them […], so you can just ask questions right there [on the spot],” Agnello said. 

Some students at Huntley have chosen to stay remote like me because I find it more safe being in a familiar environment. Other students have chosen hybrid learning because it is a better environment for them personally. “I hybrid, because […] it is a lot easier to not get distracted cause I am not surrounded by my games, and I don’t want to watch TV. The only downside is that we really can’t eat unless it’s lunchtime,” Agnello said. 

The biggest concern with hybrid is safety because we have already seen some cases pop up here and there. Teachers and students are still becoming sick. 

“[Getting sick] is always a concern, but as long as you take good precautions, like washing hands and [sanitizing], you will be okay,” Agnello said.

 The thing with remote learning is that you do not have to be around anybody, other than your parents, but with hybrid learning, there are other students in the class. 

“Mostly I like one or two, maybe three or four [students] at the most and [so if you] wanted to talk to your friends, you are going to be very disappointed,” Agnello said. 

So when it comes down to if you want to be able to talk it up with your friends, being remote is a better use of that. 

“[Hybrid] is good for people who want to focus and get their work done, but for people who […] are already getting their work done [remote], they really don’t need the hybrid learning,” Angelo said. 

For these reasons, I believe that if you are a student who mainly works and does nothing, you should choose hybrid. Just know that things are limited, so if you are a person who enjoys talking with friends and having no limits like when you can eat, watch television, or when to go to the bathroom. 

I believe that the difference between remote and hybrid is really nothing. Either choice can be better depending on what kind of student you are, all you have to do is choose whether you want to take the restrictions or not.