ICT Essentials for Teachers (Module 3)

How effective can remote learning be?

Notwithstanding the herculean efforts of students, teachers, and parents, the latest version of remote learning — performed across the country these past months, and perhaps continuing into the New Year would not offer evidence that remote learning is effective.

According to early research, forced remote learning during the Covid-19 pandemic set students back months, sometimes as much as half as they would have learned in a physical classroom. On top of that, remote learning has ‘further entrenched racial and economic disparities as well as renewed digital divide”

By and large, student engagement was down, teachers lowered standards for rigor and student performance, and too many young people did not have access to the tools they needed to learn. In addition, diverse learners often did not receive the learning support required by law. Furthermore, some districts, in agreements with teacher unions, chose to suspend classes for long periods of time, severely limit synchronous learning experiences, and eliminate grading and feedback on student work.