Difficulties in Asynchronous and Online Learning for Young Minds

According to a recent article from CeoWorld, there are a few factors contributing to the demise of the education sector currently. Remote learning and digital classes have come into play quickly, and many teachers and students do not possess the skills necessary to navigate this platform. The stress and change has caused many teachers to quit, and students are dropping out of public school, turning to homeschool or online learning academies. 

A good chunk of our public students have already "dropped out" of school.  I know parents that have relished in the fact that they get to homeschool their girls. They get to travel all over the country while successfully checking in for classes online. Everybody is happy, they get to enjoy family time, and the kids get to experience the real-world. It's like field trips, but all of the time. "Not all classrooms have four walls."

Remote learning and digital classes, while convenient for adults, are not so convenient for children. The scope of attention and responsibility needed to learn adequately in these conditions inevitably take more effort. Some children have the drive needed to succeed in a digital classroom, but for many, it is not so easy or realistic. The attention span is lost, and unless there is a parent monitoring over their shoulder the entire class, it's easy for the typical primary student to lose interest quickly and find something else to do.

There is global concern over the effects that the concept of quarantine has had upon the education sector. While learning about educational theory, we realize that learner analysis is an important component in deciding how we are going to do things in the classroom. At any age, we decide whether or not we want to learn something. Taking the time to practice and learn something new takes effort, time, and responsibility. Now, I am not saying that children do not want to learn, I am saying that some may not necessarily be as willing to abide by a formal learning schedule where they can really focus.

This takes us to the issue at hand: Over the past couple of years, primary and secondary grade levels have suffered immensely when it comes to staking higher levels of academia, and the statistics are just starting to peak. A study showed that many students will make $82,000 less in their lifetime due to the years lost in quality educational instruction and the issues of remote learning (McKinsey, 2020). Speech impediments are up 350% across the board. When a child learns a language, facial recognition is extremely important in learning phonics. We use our mouths for language learning, and the issue of bringing masks into schools may have hindered the ability to learn effectively. 

How can we get children to learn through a computer screen at home just as we do in the classroom? Did you know, that a typical primary classroom tactic is to "entertain." We as the teachers have to speak in funny voices, bring theatrics to the table, just to get the attention for a few minutes out of our little ones...

Imagine trying to entertain and manage a young group digitally! It will not be as effective. Teachers use a variety of learning management systems (LMS) platforms that can aid immensely in the production of quality online learning material. Audio and visual elements are very useful if there is not a real human teacher around. The more resources paired together the more paramount of an experience for the learner. Basically, the more materials you can use to teach, the better. 

Lack of digital knowledge amongst teachers, is a very real issue. Do you know how many teachers had to learn every aspect of the Zoom/video platforms within a week after students got sent home for the pandemic? Many teachers had to quickly divert their physical class material into online Canvas platforms-  complete with an avatar, a cute digital classroom, and even the option to decorate for the holidays. 

I was able to teach some classes at different levels through these Zoom sessions. Some kids would disappear halfway in, while all my response could be was a simple direct text chat asking if the student was alright (or... napping?). Good times. Some would bring their pets on camera, completely diverting attention from the lesson, even from myself. 

Secondary students seem to get the hang of digital learning a bit more, which is expected at their maturity level. They understand that if they don't do the work, they aren't graduating, and they may have to go the GED route. As for grades K-6, I find that remote learning can be very stressful, for both the teacher and the learner. If the learner can organize themselves to prepare for remote learning, it will make the experience much more valuable. Still, the more materials the better. Face-to-face instruction with audio/visuals and physical manipulatives would be the best case scenario. 

While for some it has been good for some, for others, the whole institution of education has left a sour taste on the palate. We cannot forget that students have parents. Parents too, have been through strife the last few years as well. After getting a taste of the remote learning world, many parents chose to go online completely, with public schools nationwide seeing a reduction in attendance. 

Digital education was a good challenge for the high-schoolers. They really had to be responsible if they were to learn the material on their own. Honestly speaking, I don't know if I could have managed in high school. With social circles, hormones, and a part-time job- an online classroom Canvas page with to-do's would have sounded like a complete bore at 16 years old. After all, the main part of even getting up and going to high school everyday was to see your friends, right? This new way will definitely build resiliency.

There is no doubt that current events have provided everyone with a new set of problems that we must work with. With students now continuing on with in-person learning, we can learn from the problems that arose and plan to be better prepared for our students in the long run. 

How Covid-19 has affected the education sector globally - CEOWORLD magazine

Achievement gap and coronavirus | McKinsey

REPORT: Mask Mandates Causing Over 350% Surge In Childhood Speech Delays | Page 3 | US Message Board 🦅 Political Discussion Forum