3 Things You Should Know About Distance Learning
You've probably seen the viral video posted by a mom in Israel sharing her (hilarious) opinion that distance learning aka virtual school is simply not working. Not only is she concerned that her kids will find out how stupid she is as she fumbles through trying to help them with their assignments, but the whole situation is putting an enormous strain on the entire family. It's clear from a multitude of posts like these, as well as a host of articles from more mainstream news sites that the concept of "distance learning" leaves something to be desired. Here's our list of three things to know about the idea of distance learning and some suggestions on what parents and students might consider instead.
It’s a lot of work for parents.
During the COVID-19 crisis when many parents find themselves working from home full time, they are also doing double duty as an extension of their child's classroom. Parents are expected to present assignments, and help students complete them on time. With teachers trying to manage so many students remotely, they are asking parents to pick up the slack and it is, quite rightly, overwhelming to many.
What to do instead: Take stock of what activities are most important to you and to your child and try to focus your energy there. There are only so many hours in the day and you simply won't be able to get it all done, at least not for long. Sit down with your child and make a list of what subjects they actually want to spend time on and decide for yourselves how you can best support them. It may not be exactly what all their teachers want or expect, but the fact of the matter is that while physical learning environments are closed, school is happening on your timetable now, not theirs.
2. Students are bored and overwhelmed in equal measures.
Many of us are experiencing Zoom calls for the first time in our careers, and that includes our kids. With distance learning in place, kids are spending hours in front of screens watching/listening to lectures and are expected to stay alert and attentive the entire time. Never mind, that the human brain simply isn't wired that way, I think we can all relate to the burn out that happens at the end of a day of video calls and it's not what we want for our kids. These periods of idle observation are often followed by a deluge of remote learning assignments delivered via Google and expected to be turned around in a short time-frame. After all, students have nothing but time on their hands, why shouldn't they complete assignments the same day? Perhaps because they are already trying to manage so many competing priorities!
What to do instead: Work with your child's school to set expectations around the use of their time. Let them know how many Zoom meetings your child will be attending each day, and for how long. Help support your child in pushing back against a tide of busywork and allow them ample time to play, rest, and engage in unstructured activities. Children need these things in order to grow, and they need their homes to be a sanctuary during this time, not another arena in which they feel overwhelmed or inadequate. Again, it may be difficult to stand apart from the crowd and set your own limits when it flies in the face of what your child's school is asking of you, but this is an unprecedented moment in history and each of us needs to decide for ourselves how we want to manage our time - this includes children.
3. Schools are using the concept of "educational backsliding" to shame parents into compliance.
Typically the concept of the "educational slide" is reserved for summertime when parents worry that their child will lose the knowledge they acquired over the school year if they aren't putting it to constant use. Now, with distance learning, this concern is everywhere, and it is being leveraged (to great effect) by mainstream education. If your child does not keep up with their assignments they run the risk of losing everything teachers (and you, their parent) have worked so hard to instill in them. They will no longer be able to "get ahead" and "compete" at the level they are "supposed to". Okay, enough scare quotes, you get the point. There are so many assumptions in these statements and they are all worth questioning but let's just focus on the fundamental principles that we, at Alpine Valley School, see differently.
What to do instead: Consider this - children are like acorns; they are self-contained. Everything they need to thrive is already inside of them and all they need are the ideal conditions under which to grow. If your child does not pass an arbitrary test on the War of 1812, does that mean they aren't learning? No, it doesn't. As the Israeli mom says in her viral video, it's time to "take your foot off the gas". Stand back and really look at your child, the whole person, and I think you'll see that they are already a vital, wonderful, curious, amazing human being and whether or not they retain their knowledge of multiplying fractions does not affect that in the slightest. Of course, life operates more smoothly when in possession of some basic universal skills, but we believe those will come in time no matter what the circumstances are. Children are hard-wired to learn, you cannot stop them from doing it. What they don't need is an excess of structure and pressure and the not-so-subtle hint dropped by schools that they aren't already good enough as they are.
Try taking the pressure off, both of yourself and your child. Explore resources on relaxed homeschooling, or unschooling. Decide for yourself how you want each day to unfold and allow your child time to explore the subjects they are passionate about. These are extraordinary times, no doubt about it, but they are also an opportunity for each of us to examine what is actually important - to us - about education.
If you'd like to learn more about self-directed education, Alpine Valley School is hosting virtual information sessions while school is closed. Learn more and set up yours here.