Online learning no substitute for in-person contact

[TexasTowelie]

It was Dec. 31, 2019.

Something was happening in China that most of us barely even noticed. Here in the U.S., we were really looking forward to an incredible 2020. The Olympics were to take place. We would have a significant presidential election. And seniors were excited to celebrate their last few months in high school.

However, in Wuhan, China, health authorities were treating numerous cases of “pneumonia.” Within days, it was discovered that there was an unfamiliar virus in which dozens of people had become very ill. Little did we know at that time that a pandemic was about to begin that would drastically alter the course of 2020.

March 6 was just a normal school day, though it was the day before spring break. Many were planning to take trips to destinations all over the world.

However, things in the country went downhill fast.

Read more: https://www.reporternews.com/story/opinion/columnists/2020/06/06/online-learning-no-substitute-person-contact/5277387002/
(Abilene Reporter-News)

[chillfactor]

1. sorry I have taught in classroom and online classes

I much prefer online classes...I meet students from all over the world.....they learn all about our country and I learn all about theirs. Public school teaching is a disaster...students are for the most part arrogant, snippy, and disrepectful. to their teachers. Sorry but I never get that disrespect from online students.

[B Stieg]

2. How do you tell if you are engaging them?

(Just about to start my 2nd set of Zoom classes)

[whistler162]

3. Also what age are they teaching?

[Redleg]

4. It depends on what the learning outcomes are

If you are assessing declarative or procedural knowledge, online works as well as face-to-face. If you are assessing behavior and skill development, face-to-face is usually better because it allows more effective coaching and feedback.

I really miss the student led class discussions and presentations in my senior capstone seminar (in college). Teaching asynchronous online is to me worse than teaching a large (100 plus) lecture class. It is literally taking the joy out of my work.

I am grateful though for the opportunity to teach safely from home but I am looking forward to getting back into my office and my classroom sometime later this year.