Zoom fatigue is part of each student’s life. As students learn remotely, videoconference is the way for students and teachers to connect and communicate. A year later, there is no surprise that ‘zoom fatigue’ is a challenge for both students and teachers.
Zoom Fatigue occurs with overuse. Also, after hours of online lessons and staring at the computer, there are tied eyes and stiff necks. Many programs that connect with online learning are not really synchronous learning. Dr. Brenda Wiederhold states, “Our brains are used to picking up body language and other clues, not to mention increases of dopamine, that are experienced during face-to-face communication. On a video call, something is off, and our subconscious brain is reacting to that. Communication isn’t in real-time, even though we may think it is.” Additionally, scientists feel that technology disrupts the normal intricate human communication methods.
Not Wired for Zoom
One hour of zoom is emotionally equivalent to three hours of speaking person to person. With this, the human brain is able to process images faster than sound. Thus, the brain meets with challenges as it copes with multiple 2D faces. The brain feels the strain as ‘minds’ are together in a zoom but our bodies are not. Not only students, but nobody is wired for that type of communication.
Avoiding Zoom Fatigue
Video calls require more mental processing than person-to-person. Therefore, there are a few ways to prevent fatigue.
- Position the computer screen correctly. Avoid glare and do not sit in front of a window. Do not have a light shine on the computer screen. Also, sit about two feet away. Also, look slightly down at the screen.
- Choose speaker view. This allows the focus on the person who speaks. Thus, it does not permit distractions. Often, students look at themselves on zoom calls so, hide self-view.
- Use the mute button so the focus stays on the speaker.
- Limit backgrounds so the focus stays on the person.
- For long meetings, take breaks to save the eyes.
The best way to eliminate zoom fatigue is to reduce the number of online conferences. Sore eyes equal tired minds.
