Finding Balance

What will this fall look like in terms of teaching and learning? In my heart I hope that we will be able to return to classrooms with some safety precautions put in place. But, in my head I know that this is unlikely. The uncertainty of not knowing what the fall will look like makes me feel like I have lump in throat and a pit in my stomach. I was supposed to be doing an internship this fall, is that going to change? I found our discussions from our class on Tuesday to be comforting in the fact that I was not alone in the way that I was feeling. I was inspired by the positivity that was shared. No matter what it looks like we will figure it out. We are resilient and flexible, if we are going to be teachers, we have to be.

For my kids sake I really hope that they are able to get back to the classroom for some face to face instruction and social interaction, even if it is offered in a modified way. So far their teachers have been doing a great job of remote teaching. All of their teachers were already using Google Classroom so the framework was already in place. Unfortunately my kids are really missing the positive connections that are made when they see their teachers and classmates face to face. A switch has been flipped in our house where screens and technology were used primarily for fun are now seen as tools for work. We are lucky enough to have devices and internet at our house but many students do not have access so remote learning using technology that is web based is not a viable option for them. I know it seems strange that some families are living without home internet and devices but there are many reasons that this occurs. In some rural areas there is no reliable internet service, some families can not afford it, some families only have limited access such as a smart phone with data, which they need when they go to work.

Currently I am working full time from home as an EA. My duties change from day to and differ from the duties of EAs in other schools. I am supporting learning in a variety of ways from finding resources and ideas, to participating in professional development opportunities. The teachers are doing an amazing job at providing activities that use a combination of technology and more hands on skill development opportunities. It is really too bad but the school is not having great success with students participation with the supplemental learning that is being provided. This is due to many factors including no access to technology, even to receive the information about the learning activities, parents who are unable to assist, have not been able to get in contact with families (some do not have home phones or cell phones that are in-service). If this style of learning is going to continue through next fall, Many schools like this one are going to have to find another way to reach their students. I wonder what the gap will look like between students who have been able to participate vs students who have not?

I hope that as we move forward the direction becomes clear and we are able to address the uncertainty that lays ahead. By 2025 I think that education will continue to utilize technology and it will be imperative that teachers make learning as relevant as possible. In a Ted talk shared in Shelly’s blog the presenter explains that our classrooms need to be as engaging as the world around us. Since many educators have had to embrace technology since Covid-19 forced schools to change their delivery method we have all learned just how important technology is to education. I believe that in the future all teachers will have to have remote methods of instruction available.

I have found many of the resources and articles posted to be quite interesting. One article that I particularly enjoyed was from the Harvard Medical School site titled Screen Time and the Brain. It explains many of the concerns that I had about the increase use of screens and the need for purposeful use of technology as well as balanced use.

This topic brings up many emotions for me during these strange times. I know that I will preserve and that I will help my children cope with the lack of social interaction but I can’t help but wonder about how to achieve optimal learning environments for our students if they do not all have equal access?