In Defense of Online Learning
Online classes earned a bad reputation during COVID. The speed at which schools were forced to implement online schooling left many scrambling. The unprecedented crisis meant many schools found themselves wholly unprepared for at-home learning. Most schools in my rural county lacked the digital resources and infrastructure necessary to implement online learning. Not to mention how many teachers then needed a crash course on e-learning resources and programs. Many teachers I taught with in 2020 still relied heavily on paper and text resources. The week before the initial shutdown, we gathered every day after school for literal up-to-the-minute updates on whether we would be in session the following day. We all had less than a week to prepare, and it showed. But other factors, which have plagued education for decades, created additional pressures and obstacles. A class of 30 students is challenging enough to manage in person, let alone online. With all these problems, it's easy for parents to criticize online learning and view it as harmful to their children. However, I have taught exclusively online for the past three years, and I have repeatedly observed the success of online education. The key here is to understand the limitations of online learning and stop expecting it to look and feel like in-person learning. Once we accept that, we can harness the benefits of online learning to empower struggling kids.
Accessibility & Flexibility
The advantage of online learning is that it can occur from anywhere with an internet connection. I've had students attend classes on phones in the backseat of cars coming home late from practice. Other students attended from a laptop while on vacation. In both those circumstances, those kids would have missed their in-person class entirely. But thanks to the wonder of smart devices, 5G, and hotspots, those two students didn't break their class routines. The bright spot for parents is that they don't have to worry about dropping off, picking up, or finding a ride when a schedule conflict arises—no more driving in bad weather or dealing with cancellations and make-ups. Teachers and students don't even have to be on the same continent, let alone in the same state or city. Taking a class online provides access to learning opportunities that some communities may not have. Online learning is unmatched in the possibility it creates for accessibility of opportunity and flexibility for attendance.
Small group & Individualized Attention
Class size is a huge indicator of success in online learning. During COVID, we attempted (and failed dismally) to transition standard-size classes online. In a classroom, the teacher can observe all students and move around the space. Teachers call this "proximity." Usually, the proximity of a teacher who might catch off-task behavior just by looking up mitigates problems in the classroom. However, when a teacher uses a program like Zoom, they're limited to seeing five or six students at a time while sharing their screen. The video boxes are minimized, forcing the teacher to scroll to see everyone, which is nearly impossible during instruction. For this reason, online class sizes must be limited. I think the magic number is six. This number allows me to keep an eye on all students during instruction and provides enough students that I can keep engaged while maintaining the class dynamic needed for discussions. Smaller class sizes create a more intimate atmosphere, leading to stronger student-teacher and peer relationships. This closeness creates a sense of security for Students to speak up, volunteer, ask questions, and make mistakes without fearing the scrutiny of a large group of their peers. Teachers can regulate behaviors by intervening when necessary, catching the telltale signs of off-task behavior, such as students off screen, wandering eyes, or those who are lost and don't hear questions. Just as a new teacher quickly learns the signs in the classroom, any teacher who teaches online will pick up the subtle clues to off-task behavior. Lastly, in small classes, students will participate and engage more deeply in online classes than they might in a physical classroom simply because of the individualized attention.
Supplemental Enrichment
Many students would benefit from additional time with a teacher. Unless the student has an IEP, they are unlikely to receive things like extra time, 1-on-1, personal pacing, or additional practice. Online classes provide an opportunity for supplemental enrichment. These types of classes, held outside of school, reinforce skills and focus specifically on areas of concern that would otherwise go overlooked in a large, busy classroom. Some students need more time to process information or practice skills. Online learning creates an opportunity to receive the time and attention they need to master Skills or content. And because these small group or 1-to-1 classes can be attended from anywhere, they will benefit from the individualized attention and consistency needed to reinforce that learning.
Conclusion
Online learning was an easy scapegoat during COVID because people were looking for something to blame. The imperfect rollout and implementation of online learning made it an easy target for criticism. Unfortunately, it unfairly condemned what can be a wonderful and life-changing opportunity for students. When we embrace online learning for what it can be, rather than criticizing it for what it can't be, we eliminate the chance to serve a multitude of kids who would otherwise be denied the opportunity they deserve.
