May 19, 2020
For a hundred reasons, remote learning is a lot harder than the face-to-face experience.
While waiting for another teacher to join our Google Meet a few days ago, I had an interesting conversation with a colleague. In the most organic way, she expressed several reasons why remote learning was more challenging on everyone–from students and teachers to families and communities–than “the real thing.”
I was fascinated by her central theme.
It wasn’t just that many of us are trying to be 100% parent, 100% householder, and 100% teacher/worker at the same time. Many of us do that every day, already.
It was that many are now living all 100% roles in the same time AND space.
Although you’re never really off the clock as a parent, householder, or teacher/worker, there was always one factor that allowed adults to center their energies as wholeheartedly in the moment as possible.
Space.
Having the routine of leaving home to go to the workplace every day literally increases space between parenting and householding duties versus employee obligations.
Having the routine of leaving the workplace to go home every day literally increases space between employee obligations versus parenting and householding duties.
Having a routine matters.
Changing physical spaces matters.
Changing physical spaces during our everyday, routine roles may make a huge difference in our mental capacity to be healthy, productive, and effective.
If seeing and hearing people sufficed, and
If sending and receiving information sufficed, and
If assigning and completing work sufficed, and
If technology in itself sufficed, then…
Why isn’t remote learning really working?
Physical space is a crucial medium that changes how we teach, learn, and function in our everyday lives. It directly impacts how we connect, interact, and sustain.
Physical space is a stabilizer that may help all moving parts of the whole to survive.
At some point in the course of a day, our face-to-face, human connections restore our individual sense of self and reinforce our sense of belonging with the whole group.
Still, there’s a sad truth to embrace:
It’s always a trade-off. No one can be more than 100% at any given time.
When you thrive in any one area as a parent, householder, or worker, you’re sacrificing the other two areas. With routine transitions in proximity, you may have been able to compartmentalize more effectively, thus feeling more productive to do all that things, and to gain deeper satisfaction in all the roles in a given day.
It’s heart-wrenching to hear your child laughing or crying in the same room where you’re trying to invest in that workplace video meeting.
And what’s even more unimaginable from my current, privileged life experience?
Some adults don’t even have a job right now.
Some families have basic needs unmet.
Some kids don’t have access to learning opportunities.
Some kids have access but no support.
Some are doing all they can to hold it together.
Then, maybe we’re all just doing the very best we can.
Simple Math:
Parent working. 100%
Parent householding. 100%
Parent parenting. 100%
That's 300% in the same time AND space. That's it. That's ONE reason why #remotelearning is challenging.— Kyle Hamstra (@KyleHamstra) April 25, 2020
I’ve been trying to ensure we have additional minutes between meetings to make this happen. It’s so easy to sit and allow time to fly.
— Phil Echols (@PhilEchols) May 14, 2020
"A well-trained teacher in the classroom can never be replaced." @DOEChancellor
— Kyle Hamstra (@KyleHamstra) May 19, 2020
I have 8:30 to 10:00 pm usually. I also usually have to leave the house at some point on the weekend and work at a coffee shop.
— Kenny McKee, NBCT (@kennycmckee) April 12, 2018
Can I Give 200%? https://t.co/ewxWhJfdxf A post written from such a sincere place. You are remarkable, @KyleHamstra! #oneword2017 #reflect pic.twitter.com/mQ4exPmsOj
— Dr. Jennifer Williams #TakeActionEdu (@JenWilliamsEdu) July 12, 2017
Huge #TootlingTuesday to those who commented on my 7-11-17 blog: "Can I Give 200%?" on #HamstraHighlights or F2F. Keep the advice coming… Here is my latest update: #MyalsMoments #LittleH1 @plugusin https://t.co/39LNQ4T16H pic.twitter.com/ix8W5vOVSp
— Kyle Hamstra (@KyleHamstra) December 12, 2017
I'm a terrible parent. I'm a terrible educator. There is no balance. I didn't know it'd be quite like this. It's a heartwrenching wrestling match–the likes of which I had never experienced. #HamstraHighlights: ZZAZaA (My Son's First Blog) https://t.co/0BbLRejtiC #MyalsMoments pic.twitter.com/Ee1Z2KCFLz
— Kyle Hamstra (@KyleHamstra) November 29, 2019
Learning from @LaVonnaRoth in #empower18 #wholeeducator session about scheduling family/work balance. "When I'm at work, I don't feel guilty about missing family, bc I have them scheduled in FIRST. When I'm with them, I don't allow myself to think about work." #igniteyourSHINE
— Kyle Hamstra (@KyleHamstra) March 24, 2018
NEW Post! Sense of belonging isn't just about being included. It's about being valued. Our very core cries out to satisfy this basic need. Yet, I'm waffling, and I'd love your feedback on this one. #HamstraHighlights: Medium > Message: The Grid View Life: https://t.co/luMncW4mFk pic.twitter.com/qgbZ6AqrgN
— Kyle Hamstra (@KyleHamstra) May 16, 2020
I'm seeing all these posts about virtual learning, yet part of me thinks that the only homework we should be assigning is to spend quality time with family, friends, and loved ones.
— Kyle Hamstra (@KyleHamstra) March 12, 2020
Kyle, your post captures a feeling I haven’t been able to put into words and helps to keep me from feeling guilty when I know that I have been excited about running into the school for small projects: meet the payroll secretary, sign some checks, mail a student transcript, … Thank you. Hope you are all doing well.