The camera debate
Turning on cameras in class may come at a cost
December 13, 2020
In the age of virtual learning, schools are grasping at straws to keep students engaged. Because of the new lack of in person interaction, many are expressing concern about the effectiveness of virtual education. As educators try their best to ensure the best possible outcomes, students are being encouraged, and in some cases required, to keep their web cameras on in class. While many of the benefits are widely discussed, some of the pitfalls ofย long termย camera exposureย areย brushed under the rug.ย ย
The term โzoom fatigueโ has been used to describe the mental exhaustion students are developing by engaging with video conference platforms for extendedย periods.ย Dr.ย Linda Kaye,ย Senior Lecturer in Psychologyย explains the phenomenon saying,ย โvideo calling platforms will include the userโs own camera view on the call screen. It is likely that this isย enhancing our self-awareness to a greater level than usualย andย thereforeย resulting in us making additional self-presentation efforts than in face-to-face interactions in the real world.โย So rather than focusing on the content at hand, studentsโ brains are exerting massive amounts of cognitive power towards judging and adjusting the way in which they are presenting themselves socially.ย ย
Aside from seeing their own face, there are also negative effects cognitively in the prolonged consumption of distorted images. An article by The Conversation explains,ย โOnline, students are often expected by their teachers toย look at the screenย for the entire class and stay focused on the video feeds of their classmates. This can result in feelings of prolonged eye contact, which canย feel threateningย andย uncomfortable.”ย This leads the brain to increase awareness towardsย self presentation.ย ย
The video conference applicationย triggersย the brain into believing they are the center of attention,ย causing students to subconsciously delegate their attention towards themselves rather than the class. The article expands saying,ย โThis discomfort is enhanced by the fact that the faces on the screen are often large and appear very close. This canย triggerย the bodyโs โflight or fightโ response, leaving studentsย feeling on edgeย andย impairing their concentration.”ย This fight or flight response thenย causesย anย increaseย in anxious and stressful reactions within studentsโ minds.ย ย
While leaving cameras on is proven to have negative effects such as these, there is still a socially beneficial aspect which hasย ledย many school administrations to require cameras to stay on.ย However, most of the benefits are inflicted upon educators rather than students.ย This is not to say there is no positive attribute to benefiting educators, but rather that it leaves students with little incentive to comply with camera policies, particularly when the disciplinary consequences are unclear or nonexistent.ย ย
Senior Kira Thielen explains,ย โI prefer to keep my camera off most of the time, but I doย notย mind having it on if itย isย required,โย and, like many othersย feel,ย โPersonally, I doย notย feel that comfortable with my camera on, but it depends on the class.โย While she agrees there is an aspect of encouraged attention in having her camera on, she concedes,ย โIt forces me to make sure Iย amย paying attention, but even when I have my cameraย offย I try to pay close attention, so I doย notย notice any huge benefit.โย ย
Maybe seeing students faces helps educators adjust their lessons, but at what cost? If there is no way to ensure the blank stares at the screen are engaged in the curriculum and not in their own social presentation, it may be causing more mental harm than good. Every student has different personal preferences and comfortability levels socially which should also beย taken into account.ย However, when implementing camera requirements, the consequencesย are not yet clear as to whether they are more positive than negative.ย ย

Emma Kelly is a fourth year journalism student and is serving as the Technological Editor In Chief for the program. Outside of school she loves to read,...
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