We are all longing for a return to normal. But in extraordinary times it is worth taking a moment to think about, is normal still good enough?
School, in the last year, has been thrown for a loop. Trying to learn online, without having a choice about it, has been challenging for a lot of students. And of course, the societal functions that our schools fulfill have been highlighted in fascinating ways. Should our schools be a major source of food for almost 50% of their students? Maybe that is an efficient way of delivering that service, but we should all be much more aware of that reality.
Online learning was a growing phenomena well before the current pandemic. Having to turn it on for virtually everyone, quickly without much transition time, has revealed a lot of its weaknesses, but for some students it has been a success. What is important for parents and students is to be able to look back at this year and to evaluate, what was actually better for me while I was online and what was really challenging.
As we all hopefully move toward a new normal, it's important to think about, what did this last year reveal. What are my strengths and weaknesses as a student? What motivates me to get my work done? (If it's social interaction, think about those study groups.) How can I be creative to support my weaknesses? What skills do I need to improve to be ready for any change in the future?
Comments