Today in class we discussed online learning and distance education. While the COVID-19 pandemic introduced us to online learning, it was interesting to note that the circumstances of that period left many people (myself included) with a bitter view of distance education. Today’s class intrigued me, because it incited me to think about ways in which online learning could be used to enhance education, without becoming the sole means by which education takes place.
Many people remember their educational experience during the pandemic as isolating and uninspiring. Meeting with classmates, peers, and friends everyday is something I had long taken for granted leading up to 2019. The social interactions I had during online school could barely be considered as such. They were much more often short, mandated forum posts in which I would engage just enough to get the participation grade, but as minimally as possible in order to be able to move onto more important tasks. Needless to say, I do not think an entirely online learning environment will ever be a desirable or beneficial way to complete an education.
I do, however, share the belief that the last three years occasioned the development of some powerful and incredibly useful educational tools which should continue to be developed in order to optimize student experience, and allow for more flexibility in education. Getting to school everyday—while a simple affair for some—is a difficult and taxing process for others. Some students live far away from their school and do not have reliable access to transportation, others may find themselves crippled with social anxiety, and still others might just simply feel worn out from travelling to school five times per week in the dead of winter. All of these cases, and the many others which are regularly cited, are themselves reasons why we should move towards a hybrid model of schooling. Face-to-face interaction is critical for human wellbeing and student development, but perhaps the day has come when technology finally reduces the amount of time we spend in the work/school environment.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced many people to rapidly shift their work and studies online, but we find ourselves now in the privileged position to take what works from traditional schooling and online schooling, and put them together into a model which requires in-person collaboration and socialization, but gives students and teachers the flexibility and freedom to spend more time at home, or in other environments which might be more conducive to their wellbeing. De-centralized education does more than mimic what takes place in a traditional classroom, it can provide students with the flexibility to go out into their world and learn by having real embodied experiences, while regularly checking in with the teacher and fellow students to receive feedback and maintain momentum and direction. I hope with the years ahead we can continue to figure out how to use technology to serve people in and out of schools, rather than make them subservient to technology.
