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Education Dive
Students on remote learning: More creativity, interaction needed
Organizations are gathering students’ feedback on their e-learning
experiences during the pandemic, the tools used and what could be
improved.
Linda Jacobson
April 21, 2020
Teachers and administrators are reaching out and communicating with
students about how school has changed because of closures, but what
students would like is a better online classroom experience and more
interaction with teachers and peers, according to survey results from
Phi Delta Kappa International.
Nineteen percent of high school students responding, for example, said
video chats would make them feel more connected during remote learning,
but only 2% could give examples of how their teachers had done this
well.
The respondents are part of PDK’s Educators Rising program for high
school students who are interested in the education field, so the small
sample is not representative of all students nationally. But Josh
Starr, PDK International CEO, said during a webinar last week hosted by
the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning that he
wanted student voice to “inform the conversation.”
“Adults have always been really good at assuming what kids need and
then convincing themselves that that’s what they need, and then blaming
the kids when they don’t respond well,” he said.
Yoga and exercise, watching programs, listening to music and practicing
hobbies are among ways students said they are handling the stress and
anxiety related to the pandemic.
With plans to go into teaching, the students also responded that being
prepared, staying flexible and providing emotional support for students
are among the lessons they are learning from this crisis.
'Very difficult to do work at home'
Student Voice, a national organization, has also been capturing
students’ perspectives, using focus groups to discuss the coronavirus
and the shift to distance learning. In a recent conversation, students
shared the recognition that they were living through something
historic. But they expressed uncertainty toward how the pandemic was
affecting their education.
“I'm supposed to graduate this year, but I don't know what's happening
with my classes, if we’re going pass/fail or not,” said Jenna Yuan, a
senior at Eastlake High School in Sammamish, Washington, and chair of
the Washington State Legislative Youth Advisory Council.
But she said her teachers have been flexible with schoolwork and noted
her classmates will sometimes have a group chat to propose that a
teacher grant an extension on an assignment.
Joshua Omolola, a student board member with Prince George’s County
Public Schools in Maryland, reiterated the finding from the PDK poll
that schools and districts have been effectively communicating
information about meal distribution and exploring the level of
technology access students have at home.
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