What happens next?

With the school year ended, students are antsy, distracted by the thoughts of summer.  While teachers were also counting down the hours until the last day of school, we are more preoccupied with thoughts of how we can best prepare for the upcoming school year. There is so much uncertainty, that the only thing we can accurately predict is that next year is not likely to be “normal.”  

We are incessantly brainstorming and planning for different courses of action on what we think August could look like.  If schools are to open in Fall, how can we create a good learning environment and maintain social distancing? Should we do a hybrid of online learning and in-person school days so we can limit class sizes and proximity? Or should we remain in distance learning to protect students, families, and faculty members from exposure?  Without an available vaccine, if schools do open in the Fall, policymakers and health officials caution schools to prepare to return to Shelter in Place at any point next year.  In all the scenarios, technology will be needed for students to continue their education.  

I don’t have to tell you that distance learning is challenging: every teacher, parent and child can attest to all the issues that can and do arise when relying on technology.  Due to this, schools have taken on a “lax” standard of grading.  How can we create equitable learning when students can’t connect to the internet or don’t have devices to access the online curriculum? How can we fairly assess students’ true understanding when some could have access to “aids” of parents or Google providing them with answers?  How can we ensure all teachers’ Zoom meet ups will be attended if siblings have to share devices and the times conflict? How can we expect students to watch the how-to videos we post in Google Meets if the internet is not reliable due to the strain on the broadband from so many users streaming at once?   Schools want to be flexible and understanding for all situations so instead of providing a percentage or a letter grade, we are providing a “complete” or “incomplete” on assignments. This was intended to be a temporary band-aid while the world navigated how to function with Shelter in Place.  

To the public, the urgency for devices are winding down since schools are no longer in session.  They believe the government will be able to provide internet and devices to families with the proposed long term plans and deals they have in the works--but these will likely take a year before we actually see them begin to help our students. 

The real urgency is now.  Help Devices for Students provide laptops and internet to families before schools start back up by donating (time, skill, old devices, or money) to the cause.  We need to be proactive instead of reactive. If we do nothing over the summer months, we will return to school the same way we left it; a temporary fix--doing our best with tape and glue. 

Brigitte Clark, Elementary School Teacher & Devices Co-Founder