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Virtual Meetings: Benefits and Drawbacks by Mervin G. Oliva

Note: This article was published in Amianan Balita Ngayon, May 2-8, 2021 issue, Educators' Section)

Since the pandemic began, people have been isolated within their homes. Work for most of the different sectors, including the religious groups, has ceased or slowed down. And people are trying to cope with these difficult situations. It is indeed rough for everyone. Thankfully, the world has advanced its technology and it is now possible for a group of people, including church goers, to meet virtually in real time. Programs like Zoom, Google Meet and Microsoft Teams have been a common platform for these virtual meetings.

   When the Department of Education decided to push through with the new school year for 2020- 2021, the use of these on line platforms was recommended by Under Secretary Alain Del B. Pascua. It is a new territory for both the educators and the learners but it is an adjustment necessary for education in the public and private sector. Eventually, these virtual platforms have been used regularly for on line webinars, conferences, on line classes for learners and also for religious/ church services.

  With the shift to virtual platforms, there are several benefits that all kinds of users are experiencing. The length of meetings has been reduced for they can be started immediately without setting up a place or a classroom. The physical act of going to an office usually takes more time in many places. When you schedule a virtual meeting, all of these disappear. Shorter agenda that focus on the essentials are beneficial to everyone especially in meetings according to Daniel Russell in 2016, a former marketing consultant who created Attentiv, a times and meeting management platform.

  With its benefits, come also the disadvantages of virtual meetings. Video meetings can be draining to the attendees or participants. According to the research of ProfessorJeremy Bailenson of Standford University entitled " Technology, Mind and Behavior," virtual meetings have psychological effects on spending hours daily on Zoom. Google Hangouts, Skype, Facetime and other video calling interfaces.In a virtual meeting, everyone is seated and is staring at a screen, trapped in a chair. This can result in a restless behavior. In virtual meetings, people are limited to what they see on the screen. Not so in actual physical meetings or in making phone calls. These experiences are frustrating and draining up physically and mentally. According to Bailenson, " people moving at work perform better cognitively."

  Technology itself may back fire during virtual conferences. A poor internet connection may affect the quality of the video and the sound of the call." Screen freeze or lag" usually occurs that may disrupt the flow of the meeting. Familiarity with the platforms can also be a problem at times since users can be tasked to conduct virtual meetings.

  Virtual platforms have connected people to their colleagues, students, families and church mates during this pandemic. On line meetings have become important because people can now communicate and even teach God's words. There is therefore a need to become more familiar with the platforms to avoid untoward interruptions during meetings and church services. Indeed, virtual meetings have brought us all physical, mental and more so spiritual benefits.