HOMESCHOOL Adapting to the Confines of Distance Learning
As the coronavirus pandemic sweeps through our nation like a swirling vortex, it carries with it the resounding echo of these words, “No gatherings of 50 or more for now”. This results in a huge disruption in the lives of people all around the world. Of the more prominent and impactful of this break in normalcy is the temporary closure of schools. School personnel, parents, and students alike feel the rousing waves of this unpredictable storm. As many were preparing for the much needed pause in educational endeavors, while looking forward to the indulgence of pleasurable yet restful activities associated with “Spring Break”, none could have prepared for the reality that was gradually unfolding. What would have typically been an elimination of a day by day calendar mark off in the normal countdown to Summer routine, became a progressive withdrawal of weeks, then months, and ultimately deer in the
headlights question marks as to what the future has in store for our educational systems. “School Days” have inadvertently become “School Daze” as the normalcy of daily routines continue displacing and morphing into unfamiliar, unconventional, and unpredictable patterns of educable achievement with each passing day. There was no agenda, schedule, or lesson plan that alerted the people of the world of the impending requirements of “homeschooling”. Unlike anything “we the people” have ever experienced, this pandemic has shifted the world into a commonality like none other. Never could we have imagined this type of happening in our lifetime; howbeit, we as a resilient nation of people continually increase our awareness and adaptability, as we grasp the reins of uncertainties while supporting one another in this crisis. An establishment of safety guidelines thrust a collegiate
level concept called e-learning or distance learning into the public and private school arena. Rationale considered behind this approach demonstrates perceived best practices as an avenue to ensure safety measures in alignment with the “social distancing” era, while promoting continuity of the educational processes of instruction and acquisition. While teachers and students remain in the safety confines and comfortability of their homes, they adopt and adapt to alternative means of interacting with students using variations of advanced technological approaches. Applications such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Supports which were once reserved for collegiate and elite professional access has become the new normal for educational and quasi professional interaction. This process has been nothing short of overwhelming and frustrating, to say the least, to all parties involved. The disciplined responsibility to connect and engage has been an impending burden that has shifted to teachers, students, and parents alike. In addition, to the revamping of the educational arena, there is also the dealings with the implications in the disruption of social norms. A suspension of day to day interaction and activities among the student body, among friends, colleagues, co-workers, and associates have minimized amiable relationships to an updated “strictly business” status. Ultimately, structure and routine was the baby that was inevitably thrown out with the bath water with the induction of this new wave of teaching and learning. Educators are met with the task of introducing, encouraging, and transporting traditionally grounded students to participate in riding this massive, unpredictable cyclone of change. Whereas parents clutch the cordage of the roving vehicle as they are faced with the challenging idiosyncrasies of modern day computer software programs, curriculum requirements, and academic theories amidst implementing new “homeschool” routines for their children, all the while attempting to manage a healthy balance between work and home. With all of the facts in place, there is yet a question that remains. How are students and parents adapting? They are surprisingly and creatively adjusting even through periods of uncertainty, inadequacy, discouragement, and exhaustion. This new way of life was sprung upon all causing rips and tears in the threads of our neatly crafted quilts leaving gaping holes in the fabric of our core existences. Home offices and kitchen tables have become the new classroom environment as parents have assumed the role of classroom manager and mediator between their children and teachers. Screen time has taken on a new meaning as no longer represents down time, but has an extended definition to support distance learning. Parents struggle to appropriate assignment completion among multiple children as coursework varies by grade level and intensity. Talk about a full plate…as if that isn’t enough to digest, the epitome of mile markers as it pertains to the completion of the preliminary educational career has been dismantled. Participation in traditional commencement ceremonies have been halted and graduating seniors are plagued with the reality of the absence of one the most coveted milestone experiences of their entire lives. In conjunction with perceived negatives; however, there are potential positives. Students are afforded the opportunity to participate in
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