For Now: COVID-19: Week 3 in Remote Learning

Staying at home has rapidly affected the way we conduct our daily affairs. Work, school, fitness, and all the ways of living are happening from one space. In this new way of working, I’m mostly concerned with setting boundaries between my work, school, and home. With a population density of over 8 million people in New York City, this dilemma is not unique to any particular person.

Students make up 1 million in the NYC school system. As COVID-19 spread, the decision to shut down schools, one not made lightly, became imminent. Health officials included schools amongst the set of nonessential institutions shut down in the nationwide effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Schools may not always be a safe haven for all students but for argument’s sake, let us assume it is. To make this decision, districts wondered about the implications of school closures on families. If schools were to shut down, how could effective learning and adequate preparations for citywide and state exams take place in late spring? Not to mention the post-secondary implications for high school students. These considerations, the consequences of each action, and more importantly, the unknown, loomed above decisionmakers.

Public schools across the United States have closed down in response to fears of COVID-19 spread.

Fast forward to Week 3 of school closures. Now more so than ever, education is being forced to redefine its relationship with technology — one that has been tumultuous in the past due to management and compliance issues between teachers and students. Most school districts are relying on remote learning, so here are some ideas to consider as the coronavirus affects teaching and learning, and the state of education/schools in the United States and beyond.

1. Remote Learning: Online learning is considered to be more interactive and engaging but experts argue that it is important to maintain face to face instruction with students. As schools around the world closed, remote learning became the medium for teaching and learning. Some districts took the time to update their traditional teaching and learning systems into virtual ones. In the interim, affected students received traditional paper workbook packets. Districts have begun to implement remote learning systems school-wide, and share best practices.
2. Tech Support: Relationships with tech giants such as Google and Apple have been dynamic for school districts across the country as Chromebooks, iPads, and other Google Apps For Education programs like Classroom and Meet are expanding. These programs plus Google Suite has been especially helpful in sorting out the technical and administrative processes of remote learning in schools. It is reported that higher education institutions have geared towards using technology with advanced privacy settings like Zoom and Blackboard. Around the country, school districts are churning out learning plans and associated resources such as websites, webinars, pre-recorded lessons and other guidelines with a heavy reliance on technology to equally support teachers and students. It is accurate to say that, at this moment, the research and development arm for education, teaching, and learning are in a flush.
3. Equity and Access: If schools are focused on equity and access, there are realities to consider when developing remote learning plans. Firstly, schools must ensure all students have access to a working device and reliable internet. In line with this, some school districts are acquiring internet-ready iPads for students. Reports also suggest that parents did their part by seeking our unused devices from friends and family, especially in situations where multiple children in one household would have to share a single device. Responding to the situation at hand, internet service providers across the country are installing free internet services for families in need of it, and cell phone providers have removed caps on data plans for a limited time for free. I would advise parents to reach out to their child’s school if they are faced with issues around access and connectivity.
4. Safety: Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, many schools may have had a contract that governed the use of technology and social media. In the wake of this pandemic, school districts should update these contracts to validate a shared set of norms between the students and teachers alike. The basis of this is to maintain classroom expectations with regards to the variables of remote learning. To maintain a sense of professionalism and define the appropriate rules of engagement, teachers should establish routines and clarify expectations for students, even in a remote classroom. Developing and enforcing classroom expectations for remote learning in itself can create a safe space that is conducive to teaching and learning.
5. School Food: Countless students in the United States live in poverty and may commute to school daily from temporary housing locations like shelters. This means that a good number of students rely solely on school meals for their daily nourishment. With school closing across the country, experts estimate that many students will go hungry. Officials in DC, Maryland, and Virginia have announced that students may pick up meals from identified school sites. Other districts around the country have devised similar systems to feed students. If you’re able to, please consider donating to No Kid Hungry or City Harvest.
6. Socio-Emotional Learning: School teams should continue to provide mental health support for students. Behavioral management and learning systems for students have had to shift. Guidance counselors should continue to shift their practice along with the school community. Adults in the school should also make an effort to manage their mental health in these times. Everyone is encouraged to create a daily schedule that encompasses various activities, with at least one goal. Self-care and mental health have been recurring themes from guidance counselors, and they should not stop now.

In the wake of COVID-19, it has become more apparent how complex school systems are and the range of social benefits they provide to our communities. It goes without saying that families have gained a greater appreciation for schools. At the moment, districts are redefining education using technology with a lot of unknowns to consider. Parents are encouraged to reach out to their schools in moments of need, and I personally advise using the resources at your fingertips like Google and YouTube to find answers.

As we continue considering the varying implications of the coronavirus, remember that we are in this together, wash your hands and continue to practice social distancing.

Stay safe.