BI Word
VOLUME I, ISSUE 5
MARCH, 2021
What Do Teachers Think About Virtual Learning ? By Grace Young
Pictured: History Teacher, Mr. Rauer in his classroom prepared for virtual learning s we are approaching the one year anniversary of Covid-19, there has been more emphasis on the effects of online learning. Most of the focus has been towards students and their experiences tackling online school. However, what many fail to realize is that teachers are challenged by the adjustment too. By now it is known that Covid-19 has brought unexpected difficulties in almost every aspect of life. So it was no surprise when it was announced that Bishop Ireton High School would be doing hybrid learning for the 20202021 school year. Now that it is second semester, teachers, along with students, have a better understanding of what is working and what is not. The biggest complaint from students about hybrid learning is that students are not getting a full, focused education, but are receiving the same, if not more, work than they were in previous years. Student, Elise Norquist, said, “I was
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frustrated at first, but as the year has gone on I think I have begun to appreciate the effort teachers are putting into hybrid learning. It is easy to forget that they are struggling too.” Like Elise said, it is often forgotten that, like students, teachers are under a lot of pressure and are adjusting to this new form of learning. To combat these frustrations, students should reach out to their teachers and express their concerns. This allows for there to be a better understanding between the two, and encourages growth in hybrid learning. This year, teachers have had to make drastic changes to their lesson plans and teaching styles. New teacher and Instructional Technology Specialist, Devon Dixon, explains that she has had to convert everything digitally and make pre-recorded lectures. She has also been busy helping Bishop Ireton adjust to online learning. She says, “For the school, I have been researching different platforms that can be used in conjunction with the programs we already have.” She follows up by assuring that teachers are “excited about new technology,” and “want to see new methods of learning.” This is the attitude that teachers at Bishop Ireton had when we first went virtual in March 2020, and have continued to have ever since. Overall, it is easy to assume that teachers don’t understand what students are going through and that they are trying to make things more difficult than they already are. But the reality is, they are in the same boat as us. Teachers, especially at Bishop Ireton, want to see students succeed and thrive despite all the hardships we have faced in the past year. What is important to remember is that we are all struggling, and the difficulties of online learning are just one more thing students and teachers will tackle together as a community.