The right way to implement online learning

Though online school conceptually would appear to supersede classroom learning in a number of ways, be it the build-your-own-hours or the ability to accomplish work from the comfort of your own home, the reality of it is something more complicated. Samo students have anecdotally voiced difficulties that were unforeseen going into distance learning, mainly surrounding the apathy that they feel faced by endless assignments that they are supposed to be completing from the comfort of their own bedrooms. Overwhelmingly, the ability to work from one’s home generates endless possibilities for distraction, making school work challenging to complete and a constant source of stress. In order for schoolwork to remain feasible, educators must find mediums which cater to all academic learning styles that would have previously been addressed in the classroom.  However, the weight of maintaining one’s education does not lie solely on teachers, it is up to students to remain receptive to the new content and teaching styles if they want to continue learning.  Online school may be the only option right now as far as furthering students' education in the midst of a global pandemic, however, there are right and wrong ways to go about it. First off, the onslaught of Google Classroom assignments flooding inboxes at all hours has proven to not only be ineffective but also incredibly overwhelming. It is understandable that teachers are finding their rhythm with online teaching as well, however, they must be mindful of the students’ timelines. Just because students now have the capability to work remotely, does not mean teachers should promote such loose guidelines for timing. In order for students to maintain balance in their now heavily intertwined school and home lives, they must establish a personal schedule which allows them to complete work with deadlines, as they would in the typical school year. This can be accomplished with the help of teachers, who can post assignments every morning at the same time, creating a pacing similar to that of the classroom. Even without the guidance of teachers, it is valuable for students to take this time to develop their own time-management skills and independence when going about their work.  Beginning the week of Monday, April 20, the school is shifting towards a new form of learning, established with the intention of helping students and educators organize their work more efficiently. This schedule is department-staggered, with English, Science and Arts courses falling on Mondays and Wednesdays, Math, History, World Language and a number of electives falling on Tuesdays and Thursdays. With Fridays being a full class day, this new schedule will hopefully help to combat the overall apathy that arises from students when they are met with a daunting, large workload.  Another important issue to consider when making this shift to online education is the various educational demands that come along with varied classrooms. Some students are visual learners, others are more auditory or physical and many are a combination of the three. With the physical aspect eliminated completely, it is integral for educators to consider both the importance of visual and audio education outside of the classroom. For many students, images on Google Classroom are not sufficient as a means of understanding and internalising information. To bridge the gap between visual learning and the auditory experience that is a given in a classroom, teachers should be implementing scheduled google meets or zoom calls as a way to help all types of learners. Furthermore, class-wide calls should be mandated as a means for students and teachers to remain in touch. As everyone is experiencing the pandemic differently, it is important for students to be vocal with their peers and educators about what is going on so they can find comfort in the shared experience. These are unprecedented times globally; educators should be understanding with their students just as students should be understanding with their educators. While distance learning contains inevitable flaws, it is the only option right now, and measures should be taken by both educators and students to ensure that learning can continue as efficiently as possible.