|
 The quick answer is that remote learning is
effective for some types of learners. Students who prefer to work at
their own pace, and can handle the responsibilities of directing
their own learning can absolutely thrive in this type of educational
environment. But for others, the lack of stimulation, as well as the
continued remote learning over long periods, can lead to burnout.
Previous research has found that chronic absenteeism, which affects
reading levels, grade retention, graduation rates and dropout rates,
can become more of a problem for certain students trying to learn
remotely. For example, as cited by Kevin Bessler in the Center
Square, “Attendance dipped in Chicago’s public schools this fall,
especially for Black students and those with special needs.”
A report from the American Psychological Association cited Megan
Kuhfeld, PhD, and Beth Tarasawa, PhD, of the Collaborative for
Student Growth at the educational nonprofit organization NWEA. They
predict that overall, “students in grades three through eight will
return to school with roughly 70% of the learning gains in reading
and less than 50% of the learning gains in math compared with a
typical year.”
However, other research shows that online learning can be as
effective as in-person instruction, “if you have a good setup,” said
Michele Gregoire Gill, PhD, a professor of educational psychology at
the University of Central Florida. The problem is that what most
schools feature for remote education is not the same as true online
learning. “Teachers didn’t have prepared online content [last
spring], so they were trying to convert what they normally do to an
online platform. It was emergency triage.”
Proper online learning takes place via platforms designed explicitly
for that purpose, often with personalized content and tools for each
student.
Dr. Emily King, an adolescent psychologist, said that for some
students, being in control of their schedule and task demands of the
day seems to be making a big difference. Some parents have expressed
delight that their students don’t have to wake up early to be at the
bus stop for a long bus ride. They also don’t have to deal with
constant class changes and overly crowded halls between periods.
Other students have expressed a benefit of no longer being too
exhausted to do anything after school, and are feeling in better
physical shape as well as emotional shape. A calmer environment can
help those students dealing with noise levels and completely
inappropriate behavior of other students interrupting their
learning.
“For some students—those with anxiety, autism, and others—the
pressure comes off when they are allowed to work from home,” one mom
says in King’s report.
Remote learning also teaches us that learning isn’t just about
content, but how to organize work and become independent thinkers.
“Following the lead of the child enables them to take control of
their own learning, have more say over their life. And often, when
allowed, many will thrive if their interests are applied to
different subjects,” one parent says in King’s report.
“One size does not fit all,” says another parent, “and virtual
learning is problematic for plenty of kids. But some kids are
blossoming through virtual learning. I hope going forward,
districts, especially those that are overcrowded, start to think
about different educational delivery methods in order to meet more
students where they are.”
However, the lack of social connections during the pandemic is
significant. One of the aspects of learning that a lot of people are
now realizing is that personal relationships matter at all levels of
education, including relationships with other students and with
teachers.
In some cases, this means more failing grades are going out on
report cards. School districts across the country have reported the
number of students failing classes has risen considerably when
compared to recent years.
For example, Superintendent Steve Wilder of District 427 in
Sycamore, Illinois, said that there is a much higher number of
failing grades at the district's high school. Journalist Kevin
Bessler cited in the Center Square, “He (Wilder) reported about 850
failing grades – about three times as many as in past years.”
Those in higher education share similar stories that the Covid-19
pandemic has negatively impacted their academic performance.
OneClass, an education technology company that provides virtual
access to study materials, surveyed more than 14,000 freshmen,
sophomore and junior college students about their fall 2020
experience. Students from 232 colleges, both public and private,
took part in the study.
“About 85 percent of respondents said the pandemic had a negative
effect on their performance. Another nine percent said the pandemic
didn't affect their performance, and about five percent said the
pandemic had a positive influence on their performance,” writes
Madeline St. Amour of Inside Higher Ed.
One reason for this is that digital interactions can be highly
taxing, regardless of external factors. Asynchronous class formats,
where communication often takes place through email or discussion
boards, and remote connectivity to teachers and classmates, along
with limited access to labs and facilities, can mean that “even
something as simple as asking a question after class could mean
back-and-forth email delays without ever gaining confidence in the
class material.”
[to top of second column] |
Student mental health has also been strained from
family responsibilities, health concerns, feelings of loneliness,
and the overall loss of the typical college experience. Students are
often faced with the chronic stress and anxiety of trying to learn
under very different conditions from what they are accustomed.
A report by Suzie An of WBEZ Chicago featured student Paige Gagerman,
who considered herself “highly motivated” in the fall. But now in
second semester, remote learning “has worn her down.”
“I think that all the hope and all the life has been drained out of
me and my peers, and really the teachers, too… I’ll stay up for
hours during the night, anxious about the homework I couldn’t [be
motivated] to do. Or about the fact that I just don’t know what to
do with all these thoughts. It keeps me up at night.” She also
worries that teachers confuse her anxiety for laziness.
“We probably see more mental health visits than we do sick visits,”
said Dr. Valerie Kimball in the same report. Kimball, a pediatrician
in Evanston, said the common thread is continuous remote learning.
She said while kids are resilient, this level of remote learning is
really pushing things.
“It’s not just a matter of ‘They’re just going to have to wait it
out, they’re going to have to be resilient, they’re going to have to
be patient,’” Kimball said. “Their brains are not equipped to do
those kinds of things, and now we’re getting to the point where it’s
become unhealthy.”
“Students need to see their teachers and each other because the
social isolation is doing so much damage,” said parent Christina
Springer via Bessler’s report. “I have four e-learners at my home,
three high schoolers and one junior high, and they have headaches
and eye strain from so much screen time.”
But students are not the only ones that can struggle with remote
learning. Teachers who are used to classroom education can suffer
from the same feelings of burnout. For some, their identity as a
teacher is affected, and their self-efficacy suffers because of it.
What would normally be considered a great opportunity to learn new
approaches to teaching and finding new tools to use has become a
stressor because of external pressures beyond their control.
WBEZ also cited Peggy Kubert, senior director of education with
Erika’s Lighthouse, an organization that specializes in depression
education programs. While the push continues to reopen schools,
Kubert cautions that in-person learning, or even the end of the
pandemic won’t solve all the mental health problems.
“Schools that are smart are going to be preparing for the
repercussions that are going to be happening next year and the year
after as kids are playing catch up, as life is not immediately going
back to the way it was before,” said Kubert.
The conclusion here is that remote learning is effective if the
conditions are right, and is offered as a choice. Unfortunately,
it’s too risky to offer such a choice to everyone right now. But it
should be food for thought for schools going forward.
Sources
Advantages of online learning for some students on
the Autism Spectrum
Did College Students Perform Worse During COVID-19?
In-person, remote learning underway for central
Illinois school districts
Is Remote Learning Causing A Mental Health Crisis
Among Teens And Children?
Remote learning produces more failing grades at some
Illinois schools
Survey: Pandemic Negatively Affected Grades This Fall
What did distance learning accomplish?
|
Read all the articles in our
new
2021 Education Magazine
Title
CLICK ON TITLES TO GO TO PAGES |
Page |
|
Educating
in a most challenging year |
4 |
| A
preschool that is exciting, educational and
engaging |
5 |
| Local
educators creating practical math |
6 |
| The
efficacy of remote learning |
9 |
|
Differences in college education during the
pandemic |
13 |
|
Changing the social dynamics of education |
19 |
| School
resource officer makes positive impact |
24 |
| What's
a dog doing in school? |
26 |
|
Academics and meaningful lessons blended |
31 |
| The
return of school sports |
35 |
| Logan
County School profiles |
38 |
|
|
