“Change” by The Andrea Nigels Project1 is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0
The proverbial clock is ticking down and educators around the world are wondering what the coming school year will bring. Will we be back in classrooms with our students? If so, what will be the protocols, and how will we make them work in already overcrowded schools? Will we be working in blended classrooms or continuing with an entirely remote model? How will we address issues of equity, the needs of our most vulnerable learners, and the gaps in learning stemming from the chaos of the spring? There are many more questions than there are answers, and stress is high. The one guarantee is that it is not business as usual, any way you slice it. Educators are being called on once again to be stretched, to be flexible, to grow. The c-word of more inevitable change is upon us.
It is no secret to anyone involved in education, that teachers have long been asked to do more with less, to fill numerous roles requiring many more hours than they have in the day. The impossible is expected to be made possible. Entering a new year of uncertainty with even greater expectations is daunting. Even with the long break from the classroom, fear and fatigue are real for teacher and family alike. So, what is to be done? Rear Admiral Grace Murray Hopper, game-changer in the computer-science world in the mid-20th century, once said, “The most damaging phrase in the language is, ‘We’ve always done it this way’.” This is as true today as it was for her then. We must not just submit to the idea, we must embrace it.
While the panic of the pandemic will certainly pass, education will never look exactly as it did before. School districts will never again push educational technology aside as a nice extra if the budget allows. Teachers will no longer be able to look at technology as optional. It is here to stay. Educational technology has proved invaluable during this time of crisis and the educational community must adjust. Look ahead not with anxiety but with anticipation. There is so much potential, so much possibility for deepening the learning of our students and equipping them for the technology-rich world awaiting them.
The great news is that good quality pedagogical practice isn’t going anywhere. The gradual release of learners, scaffolding , guided practice, collaborative models, facilitation of project and problem- based learning, formative assessment, timely feedback, and the myriad effective teaching strategies that teachers have been using face-to-face with students remain good strategies. We simply need to be willing to approach them in new ways. We cannot plan to do it the way we have always done it; we must again shift. Technology is just a tool, not a teaching method. Just as in building a house, the tools alone won’t build a sound structure. The blue-prints, well-laid plans, forethought and skill are necessary to achieve the end goal. The same resourcefulness and expertise that made great teachers before Covid-19 remain essential. The quicksand to avoid, however, is the mindset Rear Admiral Hopper warned against. We must be willing to do things in new ways, to incorporate the tools of technology into our good practice to meet the same educational goals. There are incredible resources available to teachers to help revamp and restock their tool-kits. Teachers must take advantage of them. Continue to work together, share ideas, admit what hasn’t worked and celebrate what has. Ask questions; explore options, and share experience.
District must prioritize equipping teachers for this task. Alleviating fear, supporting teachers through the stress and fatigue is essential. There is also a wealth of free information available online, in addition to experts willing to share ideas through social media. As you find those resources, teachers, pass them on. Use your PLC times to work smarter as collaborative teams.
Times like these are a challenge for everyone. The unknown has always been one of the scariest territories to explore. Take heart. We have already learned much and will continue to grow each day. Take a deep breath; take one step at a time. Afford yourself the same grace you lavish upon your students. If you can find the courage to embrace the change, you will emerge a better teacher as a result. On behalf of the students and parents you serve, “Thank you.”
