Virtual Learning: What is Our Goal?
Photo by Charisse Kenion on Unsplash

It’s not what we are good at, teaching through a flat screen. As educators, we know that in-person engagement is key to learning, and multiple intelligences help kids learn. Some kids learn best when moving, others when writing, some when just listening. We must pull all of these elements together in a virtual environment to succeed.

Now, we have transitioned to virtual learning and some of us to hybrid learning. Although we have discovered many different approaches to teaching through this disastrous time, don’t throw the baby out with the bath water. While what we normally do in classrooms does not always translate to virtual learning, teachers will be most effective if they continue to use the strategies they know best. In my geography classroom, I typically use a lot of movement. We do songs, dances, and chants to help cement our knowledge of directions and definitions. On my virtual platform, I could create a video of me performing these steps as my method of teaching and post on a platform for students to view. Or, I could skip the idea entirely and find another approach. But, I know the methods I typically use work really well for students. So, why change them?

As we find ways to use our new online platforms, we have to be realistic. Students will not follow a “next step” module and learn effectively. Independent learning works when we are pursuing a passion or are interested in the topic. When we are not, however, or if we are confused, we need engagement for questions and conversation. Engagement spurs ideas and innovation. We cannot assume students will even complete modules effectively. I, myself, have been assigned online lessons with videos, and I forwarded through them just to complete the modules quickly. However, if someone had engaged me personally, asked for my ideas or opinions, I would have been a more active learner and actually taken to the content.

Regular, in person, school provides accountability that virtual school does not offer. Accountability is not just a checklist. Rather, accountability is being an engaged participant in your learning. It is interacting with others, it is questioning, processing. Not just completing a module “to-do” list. That is just task completion. We are not trying to teach task completion, or we should not be. Rather, we should be teaching collaboration, problem-solving, and innovation. Completing a task-oriented lesson does nothing to build this skill set.

Use the tools with which you are familiar. Use the tools you know are developmentally appropriate for students and will engage them in their learning. Adapt, but do not completely change. Do not eliminate paper and pencil. Encourage doodling while you are talking online. Encourage using different colored pens and pencils. Question, discuss, explore. Encourage creativity. Build, create, design.

In the past few months, it has become evident that our future needs for these kids to be creative problem-solvers and innovators. It’s up to us to help them.
['Jennifer Smith']
['Virtual Learning', 'Education Technology', 'Innovation', 'Education', 'Teaching']