In so many ways, schools are the backbones of our communities. Obviously, their primary purpose is to educate. Our children go there in order to learn and develop the skills that will be necessary for living productive and healthy adult lives. But schools provide a critical secondary service to society. They provide a place for children to be under the supervision of other adults, thereby freeing up parents to do their own jobs. The COVID-19 pandemic forced sudden and extensive school closures. 21st century advancements in technology have quietly paved a path that helped us quickly jump to the solutions “work from home” (WFH) and “distance learning.” Computer/tablet + internet = WFH/distance learning …seems like such a simple equation. But it turns out it isn’t simple at all. Stay-at-home and shelter-in-place orders have left millions of students, teachers, and parents grappling with how to function without the backbones of our communities.

Parents are suddenly teachers. Teachers are still teachers, but from a distance. And many teachers, who are also parents, are suddenly teachers of their own children but at grade levels very different from the ones to which they are accustomed. Parents who are working from home (which includes a huge number of teachers) are struggling with how to both perform WFH responsibilities and also manage our children’s schooling at home. We are all scrambling for structure as well as clarity around roles and responsibilities…and wanting very much not to miss a beat in any of these realms. Many parents have been treading water, eagerly awaiting the arrival of “distance learning” to be the magic remedy — the replacement for the missing backbone. The reality of what distance learning actually is will likely be a bit of a let-down for those who were expecting a replacement of the missing backbone that is our schools. I think it might be worth getting some clarity around what distance learning actually is.

What exactly is distance learning?

Let’s go back to the primary purpose of schools: to educate ALL children K-12. Distance learning is an approach for providing instruction, opportunities for practice/application of skills, and feedback from teachers–which are the same principles of teaching and learning in the school building–from a distance. The goal is for all students to be able to reach learning targets despite not being able to be in school in person.

Does distance learning take the same amount of time as a school day?

The fact that kids being at school all day frees up parents to work is a fantastic bonus that benefits society, but in the context of a global pandemic, the key word here is “bonus.” The responsibility of our schools is to educate each and every student, not to keep them busy and entertained for 7 hours every weekday. Kids learn at different paces, so the amount of time it will take to complete distance learning lessons and assignments is varied across a wide continuum–just like in the classroom.

For most students, learning in a 1:1 environment requires only a fraction of the time that it takes to deliver instruction, opportunities for practice/application of new skills, and feedback to a whole class. In a scenario where kids are engaged in distance learning 1:1 through technology, most students’ learning will be accomplished in way less time than in a school day where they are in a 25-30:1 student:teacher ratio

Are a couple of hours/day really enough?

Educating kids is about the skills learned and not about the time. Distance learning should provide students with sufficient instruction and practice to progress toward standards and benchmarks. This is considered the core and designed to be sufficient on its own.

Oregon Department of Education recommends the following maximum daily guidelines for teacher-led distance learning:*

• Grades K-1: 45 minutes
• Grades 2-3: 60 minutes
• Grades 4-5: 90 minutes
• Grades 6-12: 30 minutes per teacher (3 hours in a day)

*Independent application/practice is in addition to this time.

Supplemental Learning

In addition to the core distance learning instruction and assignments, most teachers are providing robust menus of supplemental learning opportunities. Parents and kids can pick and choose from these supplemental activities as much or as little as works best for them.

It is really important to realize and keep in mind that kids are always learning. In fact, they do a huge amount of very important learning when they are not engaged in official school lessons and “educational” activities. But this is a topic for another day…

All in the Same Boat

We may be in different seats, with different perspectives, but we are all in this boat together. I am an elementary teacher who is trying my best to figure out how to deliver effective, engaging and differentiated distance learning to ALL students at my school…And I am doing this work from home…And I am a parent of a middle schooler and a high schooler. So although I am a teacher, I am not my sons’ teacher. Nor am I a biology, geometry, algebra, or any other kind of secondary level teacher. So I am very much living the shared experience with so many of you. And what an adventure it is! An adventure in learning and an adventure in life!