In an era of technology, many districts are lucky to have alternative options for educating their students when schools must physically close. With the increasing prevalence of 1:1 devices, it is easier than ever to ensure students can learn remotely. When schools are forced to close for an unplanned yet extended amount of time, this period of inactivity can be incredibly detrimental to the school year. From a few days to a few weeks, teachers and students need every minute of class time to try and cover all of the material for the year. When unexpected breaks are forced to occur, it is imperative that schools find ways to keep their students engaged and on track. Through the use of devices and online resources, schools can implement online lessons and assignments to fill in the gap.
Any schools that already have 1:1 devices have the easiest path to providing digital learning. Teachers can push out lessons, videos, readings, and assignments through their usua online portal, whether its Google Classroom or another system. Students can complete assignments and hand them in online. They can watch videos or powerpoints and take notes on the concepts and ideas and then work through additional assignments to further their understanding on the topic. Schools can also use the hundreds of websites and programs to support their students’ online experience. Youtube, Khan Academy, Quizlet, and EdPuzzle are just a few of the tools that teachers can easily and effectively use to help the online experience. The only concern for these schools is if they do not have any content filter installed or available for the devices once they leave school grounds. While this could be a large issue, the immediate solution is to rely on parents or guardians to monitor the students’ use of the device.
Some schools face a much more complex situation. For example, schools that do not have the resources to provide every student with a device to take home. In this case, schools could try and reach out to the community or other districts to see if there were any resources that could be shared. However, this would likely not be enough to supplement entire schools. Additionally, students who may typically use public places, like libraries, to access computers or internet would not be able to go to these places as travel is discouraged during times of inclement weather or health concerns. In these cases, there is no clear solution to how to provide digital learning to every student.
It is clear that while online learning is an ideal way to keep schools functioning when their physical doors must shut, its practical implementation is not easy or even feasible in some places. In districts that have already started to incorporate digital learning and devices, it is a natural transition to bring classes fully online for a short time. Of course, not every class will easily translate to an online experience but it is an effective short term measure. Unfortunately in many districts, online learning cannot replace physical instruction due to a lack of resources in the schools and its community. Hopefully, as the technological wave continues more schools will have equal access to devices and online resources as it truly is an irreplaceable tool for any school.
Jessica's Blog: The Learning Curve of Teaching 