E-Learning: The Ups and the Downs for Students and Teachers

The current landscape of the world has created new challenges for teachers and students, one of which has to do with transitioning to an E-Learning program.

Around the middle of March, when COVID-19 began to affect more and more people around the country, teachers all across the United States undertook the impossible: teaching from their homes. Schools couldn’t open because there were large crowds of students, but the school year wasn’t over, so educators and their pupils switched from in-person lessons in classrooms, to classes at home, and communication through services like Zoom and Google Meet.

As was expected, not everything went perfectly, but many teachers and students found ways to make the best out of an unfamiliar situation. And as talk of the best way to reopen schools this fall becomes more important, it is imperative that we take a closer look at the e-learning we’ve already completed, to see what worked and what didn’t.

Video Conferencing and Online Platforms

For teachers that were already using technology in their classrooms on a day-to-day basis, switching over to lessons that were entirely digital was a change, but not an entirely new one and most students were familiar with computer programs and technology-based learning, but for those that weren’t, the plethora of available programs eased the transition. Google Suite, utilized by many schools across the country, includes Google Drive, Classroom, and Meet, all three programs that allow for easy online communication and creation.

Additional programs like EdPuzzle, FlipGrid, and more allowed for interactive experiences that were a welcome substitute for boring, routine assignments. Video conferencing allowed for students and teachers to speak to one another, individually or as a class, so important relationships could be maintained and students could still feel like they were in a classroom with their peers.

Technological issues would always be a possibility, but through trial and error teachers were able to discover which platforms worked best for their class and their students, and continue to provide assignments so learning could go on.

Pass/Fail and Decreasing Motivation

For many students, especially those who had never before participated in online learning or homeschooling, finding the motivation to complete their school work was difficult. Being at home with their parents instead of being at school with their teachers often resulted in a less structured environment, and a lot of kids struggled to find the same sense of routine many of them had in the building.

In the first few weeks, teachers changed the platforms they used, there were changes in class schedules and expectations, and a lot of overwhelming chaos in general. Some schools ended the school year early, or switched to a pass/fail system, further decreasing motivation for students and stopping the learning process early. A lack of routine didn’t work for many students.

Some enjoyed more flexibility in their schedules and a comfortable home setting, but others wished for more structure in their day-to-day classes.

Events Outside the Classroom through E-Learning

At the end of every school year, students of all ages look forward to events that don’t take place in the classroom: field day, graduations, parades, and parties. Although they couldn’t be celebrated in the normal fashion, schools and teachers across the country found ways to honor the end of the year and the accomplishments of the students.

Some teachers, mostly those who taught elementary school, set up virtual field days for their students and even recorded themselves taking part in some of the activities. Graduation was also something that a lot of students were looking forward to, younger ones who were graduating from elementary or middle school, and high school seniors who were completing a chapter of their lives, and a lot of schools stepped up to the plate.

Car parades and socially distanced celebrations allowed for students to celebrate their achievements, and teachers across the United States made sure they could be honored. Teachers also came together to collaborate on video messages for their students, making sure that they realized they were not alone, and that they would all get through this together.

Students and teachers were faced with a unique situation this spring, and they rose to the occasion. Some schools had more success than others, but they all experienced their share of ups and downs and navigated a global pandemic that oftentimes felt chaotic and overwhelming.

With an abundance of online platforms that eased communication between students and teachers, as well as video chatting that allowed for strong relationships to remain, teachers were able to continue instruction and keep up a positive attitude.

And as we prepare to safely reopen schools this fall, we must keep in mind the strain online learning and a lack of structure can have on students’ mental health, as well as how e-learning might look at the start of the year.