The ‘wonderful gift’ of in-person learning
By Tyler on August 17th, 2011
I love what Dean Shareski says here about the “wonderful gift [we] currently have of having students actually attend school in person.” (Thanks, Scott McLeod for sharing the link.)
It’s hard to think about that as an “advantage” because that’s how school has always worked, right? But I do think that it’s absolutely critical that we not take that for granted. As incredible as technology is (and I truly believe that it can make us all better teachers and students and leaders), the most powerful learning can’t happen in isolation.
Dean writes: “As online education grows so does the potential for students to opt out of face to face attendance. What will we offer our students in person that they can’t receive online? The answer is simple. Each other.”
This reminds me of something Ted Hasselbring once told me: that the best technology helps us with the things humans aren’t great at, so we can concentrate our time and efforts on the things we ARE good at.
The question Dean asks above is important: What can we offer our students in person that they can’t receive online?
(Flickr photo by lloydcrew)
Posted: August 17th, 2011 under Education. .
2 comments
Comments
They are going to have skills to actually deal with a variety of people friends, bullies, teachers they may love or hate and how to cope and deal with those people. Eventually these children that are learning via the web are going to have to enter the workforce and if they haven’t built these skills by then they will have difficulty adjusting socially.
Comment on August 18, 2011 at 9:18 am
As our world becomes increasingly impersonal, the children who need the personal touch, someone who says, “I believe in you, you can do this.” These kids are finding that sense of self-worth more and more in their school environment. Sadly, stay at home moms who are available to their child 24/7 are a thing of the past. That being said, teachers are being blamed for more and more. We’re now expected to teach manners and hygiene along with our school curriculum. Who else is giving these kids the personal touch? So along with everything else, our teachers are praising, encouraging, and cheering on their students. THAT is what schools can offer as opposed to online education.
Comment on August 19, 2011 at 12:28 am
