Keeping the Right Focus During Online Learning
“Doing the tough things sets winners apart from losers.”- Stephen Richards
What is the right focus? What does that headline mean to you? To me, it means making sure we know what to teach (content), how to deliver or teach the content (pedagogy), or another way of thinking about this is, how do your students learn best and then determining the digital tools that will accomplish the learning goals or objectives. That sounds like a tall order but one that teachers have been dealing with for a year now. Teachers are faced with how do I meet the learning objectives effectively using digital tools? Obviously this change has forced teachers to have adapt lesson plans and objectives for execution using digital tools. This change hasn’t been easy.
My perspective is that of an early primary teacher. I automatically filter instructional needs through the possible obstacles that might be encountered for young learners. Although technology is very important and I recognize there are digital literacy standards for students, in my opinion students spend enough time using digital tools. Instructing them face to face and teaching them to interact with real people and have real oral conversations is foundational for these young learners. Learning social cues and basic respect is paramount.
I want to share two different teacher perspectives I have heard. One is a sixth grade teacher and stated that distance learning is so easy. She doesn’t have anything to really prep as far as literacy goes. She just assigns every student the same thing to read and then lets them read. UGH! How is this differentiating instruction? How is thing going to motivate and push students to excel academically? In contrast, the other teacher is a first grade teacher and stated she is working harder than ever but her hardworking students have made tremendous gains this year in spite of the obstacles presented by distance learning. For me, these two perspectives point back to understanding what content needs to be delivered and understanding the pedagogical needs of the students. One clearly has the necessary understanding to be effective and inspirational even in the midst of a pandemic and the other one sees this as an opportunity to do as little as possible for students.
An understanding of how to integrate content, pedagogy and technology has proven to be difficult for many teachers. It won’t work to just do business as usual without making necessary adaptations. Unfortunately for many teachers it means learning to do this on their own with no professional development opportunities or support.
I read about an app that has been successful for teachers called Classkick (https://classkick.com). This app allows teachers to give feedback and provide the help they need when they need it. As with any app or learning tool, adjustments need to be made to support the wide variety of learning needs. Some students might need audio directions or even a simple video of how to use the new tool.
Finally, throughout all the changes that have occurred in education, and schools trying to meet the digital needs for all students, the digital divide is a real thing. In spite of people’s best efforts we have a widening achievement gap and now a digital divide that is only going to exacerbate the achievement gap.
With support, teachers can pivot and learn to be as effective if not more effective during online instruction if they keep the necessary focus of what content needs to be taught, addressing how students learn best and then selecting digital tools that will accomplish these goals.
Good luck to all the hardworking educators that heed the call to inspire all that they have the privilege of teaching.
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“Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.”
― Frederick Douglass
The joy is in the journey!
Blessings and Peace,,
Mary
