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Learning curve
Is anyone else overwhelmed with online learning? We are just a week into this new process, and I am sure it has been an eye-opening experience for not only parents, but also for our kids’ teachers. If the COVID-19 case counts keep climbing, there is also the possibility that this setting could be the new normal for quite some time.
The government’s move to extend online learning for at least another two weeks across southern Ontario has added to our day to day workload. My secondgrader needs to be supervised for about half the school day, and my kindergartener isn’t exactly self-sufficient—I spend most of the time making sure he sits still and pays attention to the screen. This time around, teachers are required to take attendance, and marks from submissions will also count towards a final grade. (Last time kids were put into digital learning, only the in-class portion of the school year counted towards their final grade).
A typical day consists of O Canada, announcements and attendance at 9:20 a.m., and then straight into learning. My two kids have different learning times throughout the day, usually in hour increments. Once one logs off of Google Meet, the other is ready to sign in. There are breaks throughout the day, where outside time or asynchronous learning is encouraged. But, to be honest, with two kids, it’s hard for one to be outside and the other at the computer, needing the attention of an adult. At the beginning, students were expected to take part in 100 minutes a day of synchronous learning—in a class setting led by the teacher. This has now been revised to a minimum of 225 minutes per day. At the end of each session, work is given to be done by the time the next session starts, or for later in the week. Parents must then print out the needed materials for the week, and try and keep them organized. Something I know I am certainly failing at. Completed assignments are then uploaded to Google Classroom and shared with the teacher for a final mark.
This arrangement does beg the question: How are families, with multiple children, and full-time jobs, coping with the time it takes to make sure your child succeeds? It is an almost impossible task. Prince Edward County is filled with entrepreneurs, running businesses that require 24/7 attention. Add schooling into the mix and it is a recipe for failure.
I would be remiss if I didn’t say that both of my children’s teachers and educational assistants have been top-notch with the transition. It is important to remember that they, too, have been thrown into the thick of this new digital landscape. I appreciate that they are trying to make the experience as normal as possible. So far, they have conducted each lesson with a smile. Battled through technical issues, and made the best of an almost impossible situation. I can tell by the looks on their faces that seeing their students faces each morning brightens their day.
I will put some of the onus on the school board. Why was there no communication prior to the lockdown of what to expect should learning have to go digital? There was no thought put into how working parents were going to make it all work. Or how teachers, who also have children, are expected to run a class and still see that their own children get work done. All questions that require more thought.
Let’s just hope that we can see our children back into a classroom by the end of the school year.
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