As millions of teachers and students now have firsthand experience with distance learning due to the global coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the goal is now to make things better than ever. Distance learning-based curriculums were created on the spur of the moment, many times by school staff who had no real experience in creating remote learning lesson plans. As teachers include not only working women but also mothers and caretakers, it appears that the education system, as it is known, is going through a major shift.
For the first time in history, distance learning is not just reserved for adult-aged college students working full-time jobs. Distance learning is also for children in K-12 public, private, and charter schools. Learn more about exactly why a growing number of educators are accepting and adapting well to these changes.
School reforms and changes in education policy
As things are changing on a constant basis, those who are adapting to distance learning-based lesson plans are also witnessing school reforms happening rapidly. There is no unified federal education system in the United States, but the Department of Education does oversee all public schools and ensures that they all meet minimum requirements.
As parents prepare not only to send their kids back to school this fall but also face a contentious presidential election, many of the plans being implemented go beyond education. There is also safety to consider.
Distance learning translates into job security
Right now, schools in the United States need educators with a strong background in creating and adapting curriculums. Some school systems are tapping educators who work at the collegiate level, but they are also open to any teacher or administrator that has the right credentials.
The best candidates for Masters in Curriculum and Instruction careers have a desire to measure their results based on the experience of students. They openly receive feedback and are happy to make adjustments to their lesson plans.
As the K-12 education system remains dominated by women, ultimately getting more experience is going to help female teachers and administrators maintain job security.
Offering working moms in the education field more freedom and flexibility
Although teachers working in the public school system traditionally only work nine months a year, they face a lot of challenges when it comes to maintaining a healthy home-work balance. For female teachers who want to raise a family, they have to contend with putting their young children into daycare so that they can work regular daytime hours.
Ironically, although they would perhaps be the best candidates suited to aid their own kids in early childhood education, they typically need to hire babysitters while they teach other people’s children. With distance learning quickly becoming the standard, female teachers and educators are finding that they have more flexibility to be around for their children.
Distance learning is also helping them to spend more time with the families they don’t have to spend hours a day commuting. There are other distance learning benefits too.
Children aged 5 to 18 are finding that they can learn even when they are not in the same room as their instructors. Teachers, with the overwhelming majority being women, are also learning that they have quite a few more tricks up their sleeves.
While distance learning offers a lot of flexibility for educators, they also have challenges keeping their students focused and on track. This next school year, after this unique summer ends, teachers will have the chance to put it all together.
While I used distance learning to finish my college degree, I was extremely motivated and focused on doing so. I know with my own children, they rarely exhibited that kind of focus without a lot of encouragement and supervision from my husband and my self. I feel that even with an excellent distance learning teacher/program, parents are going to have to play an integral role in making the new system work.
As an educator myself, i pray that we get over this stage soon as it is not as effective as it is with face to face classroom instruction especially for young ones.
For young kids in particular, they need the social interaction!
I must be honest, Christy, that while I think teachers have done their best to adapt to the on-line learning, it is not at all idea for school going children. I hope it isn’t here to stay.
I think kids needs more, including the social part of school, particularly in their younger years. xx