Teaching during a Pandemic
We being told to be prepared to change our teaching from face to face, to a "distance education" model.
Notice it is not online education. Why? Because as a public school, we can not go 100% online. In short, as usual, we are being set up to achieve an impossible task. What do I mean?
This is what I mean. I completed a survey of my students who have access to the internet and over 15% do not have any access to the internet or no access to any kind of computing device other than a cellphone. Let me put it another way, 85% of my students could complete the year using online education. As a public education teacher, I fight for equality for my students. So we see the digital divide becoming an issue. This is why we need to create "distance education" opportunities for all students. But "distance education" is not equitable either.
WHY CAN'T WE USE BOTH AT THE SAME TIME
We are being told to create online resources AND to create offline (paper resources) for those who can not gain access to the internet. Again, here is the issue of equality. Allow me to illustrate: Say I give an assignment online, and create s short video for the students to view as it relates to a new assignment. The video is only seven or eight minutes long. Then for the offline kids, I write a one or two-page instruction guide, containing the same information as the video. For some eighth graders, reading two pages (or even one page) of text, especially instructions, can overwhelm them. Some students will not read even attempt to read the instructions, some might try, and then give up. In short, the students who have access to the video will have an easier time gaining the information, when compared to the students who need to read the assignment.
INTERNET INFRASTRUCTURE
Not all homes only have one student. Some homes have three or four siblings that will be working from home. Are there enough computing devices for all students? Again, this is an issue for some of my students. Additionally, is there enough physical space for all students to work? What about bandwidth? Even if all the students have a computing device, and a place to work such as a desk, now all three or four of students are streaming videos or taking an online quiz., not to mention if their parents are working from home. Now multiply that times how many other families are doing the same in the school district. In short, online infrastructure needs to be taking into consideration.
I know teachers will try their best to help their students, we always do. But I am concerned that we are given an impossible task, with limited resources( as usual). And some members of the public will use this as an example of how public education is failing. I hope not.
