eLearning still a work in progress
Posted May 20, 2020 09:00:00 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
It's not perfect.
Students across Ontario have had to adapt to changes in education.
And whether it was the uncertainty of classes due to rolling strikes, or COVID-19 forcing schools to shut down, eLearning has been part of the conversation throughout.
Now that students will be out of class physically until at least September, officials are being forced to work out any issues related to eLearning on a quicker timeline than anticipated.
“We've come a long way,” Dr. James Skidmore, an eLearning expert at the University of Waterloo, tells The Mike Farwell Show on 570 NEWS.
“If you think back 10-15 years ago, none of this would've been possible.”
He says there's been some difficulties, particularly at the elementary and high school levels, such as not every family having the tools necessary, like a printer.
“People have adapted, and have often resolved those issues,” Skidmore notes, adding with the school year done, it provides a chance for officials to think through issues and provide solutions.
He says when it comes to student success, he recognizes there are people who need that extra help that only in-class participation can provide.
In the end, everyone learns differently so while some may struggle, Skidmore says others aren't feeling the impact of the switch.
He says consistency is likely not possible, as even teachers have styles individual to them, and is pushing the importance of clear communication to maximize student success.
