Distance Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Written by Jennifer Folsom, Lead Learning Architect for the Making Sense of SCIENCE project at WestEd.

A flood of people from preschool teachers to college professors to workforce trainers are researching
best practices for learning at distance in response to the COVID-19 school closings. There is a lot of
research in this area and good evidence that high-quality learning can happen in distance learning
environments. However, all of that research took place in different context than today’s.

Distance learning during a global pandemic has no precedent. It is a context with no perfectly aligned
research to guide our way. To support the world’s educators and students learning at distance during
COVID-19 isolation, here are five principles for educators to consider.

1. Change the learning goals and the learning process. It is unreasonable to expect educators and
students today to maintain their old normal, even if they were distance learners before. Students’ lives
are completely different from how they were just a month ago, and what they can accomplish is
different as well. Determine reasonable learning goals for your students to achieve (and for you to
facilitate) in the current situation and then design a process in which students can meet those goals and
you can assess their progress.

2. Design learning activities for the distance learning environment. Avoid the all-too-common and time-
consuming pitfall of trying to recreate every in-person learning activity in the distance learning
environment. The distance learning environment has its own unique benefits that can’t be leveraged if
we see in-person learning as the best choice and distance learning as a poor second. Focus on providing
distance learning experiences that maximize learner engagement and minimize roadblocks.

3. Prepare for students’ upcoming challenges. Learners are likely to experience stress, if not trauma, in
the upcoming months — from food insecurity to housing loss to family deaths. It is essential that
educators connect with students, respond with empathy, and have a list of community resources for
students at the ready.

4. Investigate institutional policies. Learners and their families are also likely to be confused about what
their educational institutions are expecting of them. They are asking, “Do my courses count toward
graduation?” and “Does my child have to join the group conference calls?” and “Where can I pick up
assignments?” If you’re passionate about any of these organizational policies, get involved in helping
those decisions get made (and revised, as the case may be).

5. Model a growth mindset. When your distance learning plans don’t work out (and, in all likelihood, at
least some of them won’t), it is an opportunity to show students how a successful adult responds to
failure. The example of how one can productively respond to challenge and disappointment is a valuable
gift you can give your students. And most importantly, when you or your students fail to live up to
expectations, generously dole out all the extra grace you can find, because right now, everyone needs it.

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The COVID-19 outbreak has forced teachers, students, and parents into distance learning with little
notice--here's how to ease the transition, like this young girl learning on a laptop.

6 ways to bring calm to distance learning in a pandemic

The COVID-19 outbreak has forced teachers, students, and parents into distance learning with little
notice--here's how to ease the transition
Distance learning is a way of life for more than 56 million kids in the U.S. right now. With the ongoing
concern, it looks like this will be the new norm for the rest of the school year in a lot of places around
the US.

This is a huge change, not just for students, but also for their families, the community, and more than 3
million educators. All of this change can bring stress, anxiety, and uncertainty.

6 ways to bring calm to distance learning in a pandemic

However, it doesn’t have to define who we are as a society. I’ve curated and created 6 simple steps to
help you create a sense of calm and certainty in distance learning, and in these uncertain times, while
making learning fun again for you and your families.

1. Be present and available: Distance learning is a whole new concept for everyone. One way to help is
to make yourself available to the kids and parents. This doesn’t mean you’re at their beck and call.

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6 ways to bring calm to distance learning in a pandemic (continued)

However, try these ideas: hold office hours, host group video chats, and meet with students one on one.
All we are asking is for you to be there for them. It’s not enough to physically be there though. You have
to remember that while you are there, be there. Be present. Listen, respond, engage, laugh, and ask
questions. Let them know you are here for them.

2. Communicate clearly (and often enough): Good communication is said to be the bridge between
confusion and clarity. Decide what form of communication is best for your students and parents. Then
use it. There is a balance between how much and how often. The last part of this strategy is so
important. One way to ensure you are meeting your students’ and parents’ needs is to send out a survey
asking about your communication.

3. Set expectations: Just like in your physical classroom, your online classroom must have expectations.
Everyone needs to know and understand the expectations for being a part of the distance learning
community. They need to know what is expected while in group calls, when completing work, where to
find work, and how to communicate with you. Set these expectations early and revisit them as needed.

4. Create engaging activities: Your students are used to being engaged, whether by you, their friends,
the assignment, or the birds outside (hopefully not the birds outside, or that’s a totally different
conversation). Online learning is no different. Create lessons and activities that make them so engaged
they don’t notice the birds outside. There are plenty of resources online that can help with this.

5. Allow for asynchronous learning: Our kids and parents are very busy. Some kids can work all day,
while others can only work in the evening. Some have technology to use, while others do not.
Accessibility is a big deal. Help your students and parents understand that they don’t have to be online
at every single meeting. Yes, that connection is important, but the stress of trying to make that happen
can be overwhelming for some parents. Make sure some, if not all, of your
lessons/meetings/assignments are available to read, watch, and answer whenever they have time.

6 ways to bring calm to distance learning in a pandemic

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6. Plan your day: This is by far one of the most important strategies. Start your day with a plan in mind.
Write it down. Post it up. Do whatever you need to do to make sure you have a plan for your day. Set
your physical space up in a way that allows you to work from home. Designate a space that is for
teaching, not sleeping. Plan your way to a successful day.

Children have full-time jobs. Their most important job is play. Never forget that these parents have been
thrust into the role of substitute teacher with little to no training and just as little time to devote to it.

So, make sure your kids and parents are enjoying their distance learning and connecting with you and
the other kids in any way that you can.