As we are embracing emergency plans to the best of our ability and learning about what is most effective in remote learning, one of the things that I have heard frequently is that learners don’t know how to learn. More specifically, I hear time and time again, this crisis has highlighted the passivity of some students. During a school day, a teacher can keep most kids on track and effectively move them from activity to activity and ensure assignments are turned in. Closely related to students not knowing how to learn that I am hearing that they aren’t motivated to learn. 

I have seen this frustration and disengagement in my own home with my two kids but I have also seen quite the opposite. The freedom and flexibility has also brought out the ingenuity of others that isn’t always apparent in a classroom. Last night, my son gave the best presentation I have ever seen him give. He was organized, spoke clearly, and had prepared his key points because he had done his research and put together a compelling presentation filled with interesting facts, anecdotes, and his plan to convince us that he should get a snake… I know! 

So if you can get over the fact that it is a snake (I am ignoring this too for the record), let me share a bit more insight into his learning process. While the rest of us were watching a movie, Zack was preparing a presentation on his computer. He was reading a variety of non-fiction articles as he was conducting his own research, watching youtube videos about how to care for snakes, and identifying the main ideas and key details to make his point. He paid attention to his spelling and the craftsmanship of his presentation. It turns out that he can type a sentence without groaning at every key stroke. He sought feedback and critique from his sister and by all accounts, they worked together and no one was harmed in the process. He revised and added more as he continued to learn. One of the most impressive parts of this was he was ready to give the presentation the previous day and was very eager but it was late after a long day and he said I am going to wait to do my presentation when you aren’t tired and there is a better chance that you will say yes- hello emotional intelligence! So, last night after dinner he cleared the table and made his pitch. We had some follow up questions about cost and maintenance and so he went back to conduct more research (and do some really relevant math) and now we are in deliberation. #helpme 

Autonomy, Mastery, and Purpose

One of the major concerns is that our students will regress without being in school and this fear is real but we have to remember that learning happens in learners, when they are interested and motivated, not just because we tell them to and watch them do it. Much of what I have seen in remote learning has been focused on foundational skills and content and while foundational skills are absolutely necessary, when these skills are isolated or learners lack the opportunity to use them in authentic contexts, they can lose a sense of purpose and disengage. While there are many other issues that can cause learners to disengage and prevent access, a sense of purpose is more important than ever for both our academic learning and social-emotional health. If we want learners to be skilled learners and motivated, we would be wise to provide opportunities (and acknowledge the learning they are already doing) that allow them to engage in authentic tasks that foster autonomy, invite the pursuit of mastery, and intrigue them with a sense of purpose. 

In our home, we continue to go through the highs and lows of quarantine and remote learning. We are figuring out how to manage time, learn how to navigate the technology, and deal with all the emotions of missing friends, routines, and life as we knew it. My hope, for now, is that we are not just going through the motions and doing school but that we are learning the skills that matter and building habits and mindsets that will carry them through life. As we emerge on the other side of this crisis, although there may be gaps in content knowledge and skills, I will be content knowing that my kids are more resilient and they understand that life is unpredictable but have skills to navigate and cope when things don’t turn out as expected. I want them to know how to learn when no one is telling them what to do, how to fight for something that matters to them, and how to communicate ideas, feelings, and dreams and inspire others to do the same. As an educator (and really just a human), I want this for all of our kids.

I want to acknowledge that his is really hard and there are so many variables with no right answers. I have my own ups and downs but I am encouraged and hopeful as we continue to come together in community and learn to design the path forward with our learners and learning at the center.