2021 Education magazine

Page 10 2021 Education Magazine LINCOLN DAILY NEWS February 18, 2021 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 Continued p