“I think—”, “Oops, sorry...”, “No, you go ahead, I—”, “Um, I was just about to say…”

If someone were to ask me about my initial experience with Zoom University, this would be an accurate summary. Within the first few weeks of online learning, coupled with the influx of relatable memes and extravagant virtual backgrounds, none of us could have anticipated the huge role Zoom University would play in our lives.

Our academic performance, in particular, has drastically changed since we enrolled in Zoom University. Unlike in-person classes, we are not evaluated on our knowledge and understanding of our courses alone. Instead, a multitude of factors come into play which negatively affect our academic trajectory.

Our intellect has been overshadowed by freezing videos and lagging audios which leave us unable to take part; be it in colloquium discussions or in cross-questioning concepts in required classes.

Since the transition to online classes, one’s academic achievements have also become reliant on his/her compatibility with Zoom. Tech-savviness varies from person to person. While some possess the ability to code the back-end of Zoom itself, others are stumbling to make another person a co-host. And since our primary platform of instruction is Zoom, we are also seemingly evaluated on our ability to navigate its platform. For instance, while you are fumbling with the screen-sharing options for your presentation, your professor might dock you a point from your “time management” grade.

Moreover, our level of comprehension is directly proportional to the strength of our internet connection. Since Zoom University is inherently based on the foundations of the Internet, our level of comprehension is also at the mercy of our Internet connection stability. Indeed, this direct relationship leaves no room for the equitable evaluation of our knowledge in our classes.

Zoom University is framed to be remote, yet one’s physical location appears to be a dominant factor in determining whether one can excel academically. For example, this August, Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city, was hit by devastating floods, causing power outages all over the city.

“Coming from a city like Karachi, with the recent floods, you are in no position to even depend on remote learning for your academics,” said Zunair Viqar, Class of 2023, who was particularly affected by the floods.

It is fair to say that students with similar, if not worse, circumstances as Viqar do not stand a chance in keeping up with their classmates in this fast-paced remote semester.

It is also necessary to recognize that any testing that takes place on Zoom has taken on an entirely different dynamic than in-person testing. An exam on Zoom does not just test your ability to answer questions correctly — it is also a test of your technical reflexes and the ability to upload in a race against time. As a result, your grades at Zoom University are not only dependent on your academic ability, but the strength of your internet connection, the speed of your computer and the probability that NYU Classes would not glitch again. These external factors have an immense impact on our test scores, our grades and ultimately, our confidence in our academic capabilities.

One’s academic performance in Zoom University is, without question, not indicative of one’s understanding of their courses, but rather a reflection of a combination of one’s physical, technical and psychological circumstances. This makes the common perception that Zoom is the best alternative to in-person classes troublesome to say the least, as there could not be a method of instruction more impacted by one’s personal circumstances.

By overlooking the more negative aspects of Zoom University, we tend to question our own academic abilities and blame our failures on our own shortcomings. Rather than blaming ourselves, we should look at the very dynamic of Zoom University, which fails to highlight a student’s grasp on their courses, since it is overwhelmingly influenced by the student’s external environment. Zoom University misrepresents academic capabilities, and it is the reason why students from all over the world are currently being denied a fair chance at their future.