Growth Rings: The world will never be the same.
With the President’s declaration to continue social distancing through April 30, 2020, so as to slow the spread of COVID-19, the United States enters into another 30 days of pause. It is important to realize that COVID-19 has impacted not only citizens of the United States, but all of mankind. As difficult as this may be, it is an amazing time to be alive.
This event has brought to the forefront, mankind’s strengths, flaws, and opportunities for potential growth. History will record how well we responded to these Growth Rings.
Random Acts of Empathy and Kindness
During this crisis, each day acts of human kindness are being recorded and shared via Social Media. Just do a search on YouTube for “acts of kindness during COVID -19” and hundreds of stories pop up. From a teenager in Ohio setting up a ZOOM grocery delivery service, to a New Jersey family buying groceries for neighbors in need, to folks in Italy having nightly sing-a-longs, COVID-19 has not yet broken the human spirit. This video is a must-see:
Internet Access: Redefining Relationships
It is interesting that as we face the COVID-19 crisis, one of the strategies for slowing the spread of the disease include social distancing and staying home. This is hard for human beings as we are social creatures and it is in our DNA to be in communion with one another. It is a blessing at this time though that we have the internet and social media. Physically we may be isolated, but for many who have internet access, we can be digitally and virtually connected globally.
Once the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the pandemic on March 11th, those who have internet access have been able to work from home, connect, participate in webinars and Twitter chats. I am one of the fortunate ones. Tullahoma Utilities Authority provides fiber to the home, giving patrons excellent high-speed internet access.
From my porch in Tennessee, I have kept in contact with family, friends and even started new relationships through Facebook, cell phone, Zoom, and Twitter Chats. Technology has allowed me to have conversations and video chats with family back in Iowa. Including my parents in Des Moines, my two-year-old grandson and his parents in Cedar Rapids, my nephew who is a teacher in Carlisle, and my brothers in Grimes and Davenport. We have all stayed connected.
Through a #Twitter chat last week I met Nearpod representative, Michelle Moore, from Tampa, Florida. Nearpod is a fantastic online digital tool for learning. After an exchange of Twitter Direct Messages, she sent me a ZOOM invitation that resulted in a meaningful video conference.
This opportunity to learn and to communicate was spontaneous, and my learning happened in real-time. This was amazing, and an excellent example of a 21st century “teachable moments.” The question is how do we provide this type of real-time, on-demand learning experience for our children?
The Mission of Schools: Childcare, Feeding, or Academics?
When schools in Tennessee and across the United States closed, the first alarm bell to ring was, “Who was going to take care of the children during the day because of parents working?” The second alarm bell was “How are the kids going to be fed?” The third alarm bell to ring was, “What about student learning?”
These alarm bells in and of themselves are telling. It acknowledges that in addition to educating our nation’s children, many schools are the 8 to 10 hours of daycare for parents because of their work schedule. It also recognized schools have the responsibility for feeding the nation’s children. This illustrates how child-raising for many in the United States has been institutionalized.
Teaching digitally online.
When schools closed, the assumption (and the hope) was that schools could operate virtually. After all, for years now districts have been purchasing digital devices. The reality is that teachers have been using technology to support learning in the classroom. Even with schools that are 1:1 schools, instruction and learning were designed to happen in the classroom, facilitated by the teacher using the technology. Little, if any, professional development has been provided to teachers on how to “teach online.” Internet access at home, off-campus device security to keep kids safe online, assessments, as well as differentiated instruction to meet the learning styles of all children, especially entitled special education students, was not part of many school district conversations, until now. Teachers are reaching out on Social Media such as Facebook or on Twitter, sharing ideas, comforting one another, and sharing concerns for their students. Administrators are scrambling.
Closing schools for a long period of time because of a Pandemic caught everyone off-guard. Many Districts are now flying by the “seat of their pants.” It is interesting that traditional school conditions, specifically but not limited to state exam tests, Carnegie Seat Time for credit, grades, and the school calendar have become irrelevant. Maybe for the 21st Century, they never were? In that, perhaps this crisis is spotlighting many good things; however, it is also spotlighting many flaws.
Emerging Themes and Questions to be Addressed:
As we look forward, innovation, creativity, and imagination are needed. The world is now forever changed. With every challenge, comes opportunity. We must step away from the old, seek new ideas, new thinking and embrace 21st-century realities.
● Relationships will remain foundational, though, with technology, they will look different.
● Will the current mission of PreK-12 education, childcare, feeding, and academics continue?
● How then does Social and Emotional learning factor into the conversation?
● What will school and classrooms look like?
● Will virtual learning for some become a preference?
● How does this reframe school districts, teachers, and communities?
● Access to affordable, robust, and reliable broadband internet is a challenge. Currently, there are the “Haves and Have Nots”.
This is not the end of the world. It is the beginning of the new beginning. Have courage, be patient and together we will find the way forward. Embrace the adventure and excitement of creating and learning.
The tree of mankind is adding yet another Growth Ring
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