St John’s, Aug 2 (The Conversation) For parents, children and teachers, one of the most bizarre memories of the pandemic will be the sudden turn to online learning.
Many teachers, parents and children were puzzled by the experience of online education when schools were closed, which were relieved when classes resumed.
Although the media often talks about the negative aspects of online schooling, this was not the case with everyone.
In my education research with international colleagues about socially innovative interventions to promote and advance the inclusion and integration of young children in society during the pandemic, we worked with educators as they conducted research about teaching practices. Implemented insights that support listening to children’s opinions.
In our study, we observed that for some children, through the pandemic, the online environment was an extension of how children’s opinions and ideas could be shared in teaching practices such as dedicated dialogue circles.
For these children, online schooling was a positive experience and not a struggle.
In Canada, our research ran during almost the entire pandemic in diverse and financially challenging Eastern Canadian schools.
Some students prefer online learning
Classrooms can be an intimidating place for some kids, and when they suddenly went virtual, some students found that digital learning better suited their needs.
Xavier was a freshman in Canada, having entered Grade 4 when the lockdown began in the spring of 2020.
We learned that the online class gave him time to adapt himself to a better environment in which he could develop English language skills.
Developing friendships, relationships, and pursuing educational goals all became easier for him when the confusion of a new language subsided, and he was able to learn at his own pace.
The adaptability of the digital space was important. Stability, peace and the possibility for students to move at their own pace – and some of its benefits – all became more transparent with online classes.
break through language barriers
Online learning gave some children autonomy, and children were freed from the curriculum to work independently on projects.
In an at-home project shared online, Javier built an entire city out of leftover cardboard boxes he had come across from Canada. He was happy to share it with his classmates,
