Is Distance Learning Working?

Is this the future of education?

I had previously written about the monumental achievement of porting traditional classroom instruction to distance learning (read about it here), but now that we are weeks and months into this new normal, it is time to ask is it working? Here in New York, Governor Cuomo seems to feel that it is, so much so that he is questioning the need for physical classrooms. While that is more than a bit extreme, is he wrong?

To begin to answer the question, I suppose we should start with what distance learning is. If we are talking about shifting live teacher led instruction to the digital realm, then we have a good debate on our hands, but if we are talking about a series of assignments with due dates (whether they be teacher created or third party created) then I would say that is not what most people think of when they think distance learning. There is an entire industry of adaptive assignments that students can progress through; schools use them, teachers use them, and parents can certainly use them. But this is not instruction, this is not the future, this is supplementary material for instruction.

The problem with distance learning starts with the fact that live instruction is not the norm. Too many schools have simply adopted the assignment model (discussed previously) leaving students and parents to complete assignments without instruction. I don’t know how much this is talked about, or if the Governor knows this is happening, but I can attest through first and second hand accounts that this is happening consistently. From pre-kindergarten all the way through high school, instruction is being replaced with a series of assignments. Not only is this not instruction, it is detrimental to students that will not be able to understand new material but rather go through rote assignments. I would argue that this does in fact fit the definition of distance learning, but not the spirit of distance learning.

Shifting to the live instruction model, now we have something to consider. A nice OpEd was published by the New York Times by a 13 year old student (Why I’m Learning More With Distance Learning Than I Do in School) which presents a strong case for distance learning. This student feels that she is learning more in this environment than she did in the classic classroom. She cites how unruly students routinely disrupt instruction and how this environment all but eliminates that. I have also had the opportunity to check in on a transfer high school (schools that routinely deal with disenfranchised students who have chronic attendance issues) who reports that their attendance and engagement have hit all-time highs. Simply put, this environment has some advantages over the classic classroom. Students can be in a comfortable, controlled environment where they can focus on their work and their studies.

 Logically, this controlled environment is beneficial to all students, but is it a better learning environment? If we are talking from a purely academic standpoint I might be inclined to say this is a superior format; I myself prefer to learn in closed controlled environment. I am also sure than when you consider your own education, group work was your least favorite part of the classroom, mine as well, but I have to say that it helped me grow as a person and learner. Interaction with your peers is a crucial aspect of instruction, and forces each member of the group to regulate their emotions, consider the perspective of others, and make sacrifices for the greater good. Students can often bring perspectives that teacher cannot, making the content more approachable. It has often been said that you learn as much from your fellow students as you do your teacher, how can that happen in a digital environment?

For a moment, go beyond academics, let’s look at soft skills. I would argue that you learn soft skills more in the classroom than at home. Throughout my career as an educator I have had countless parents tell me that their child does not behave like “that” at home, and my response if often to explain that the environment that their child lives in at school is vastly different than the one they live in at home and each environment demands different responses. I agree that our NY Times student is likely performing better academically and as much as I wish that her teachers were more adept at handling behavioral distractions; she is learning how to deal with distractions and adversity. These soft skills are required in the world outside of academics. How many times in your career have you had to work as part of a group, how many times have you worked with someone that disrupts your work process, how many times have there been workplace conflicts? If our students are not learning these skills in school, they will be ill prepared for the “real world” which is loud, chaotic, and unaccommodating.

Distance learning as it stands right now is not the future, it is triage. It is an attempt to continue the learning process and in some aspects is has been phenomenally successful, and in others is has been little more than busy work. The future of education requires more immersion and interaction than what has been accomplished right now, but what we have right now can last for a little while longer. I would just preach some caution that the finger in the dam is not the solution even though it may be addressing the problem.