Page 2 - Haldor_eBook_052020

Introduction
scared, or angry—a wheel of emotions that
schools must sensitively address as they look
The shift to online learning to structure new curriculums.
disrupts classroom progress Needless to say, transitioning to distance
learning at scale is challenging, especially
Schools have closed in 130 countries, disrupting for educators. Teachers face a unique set of
the educations of more than 1.2 billion children hurdles. They need to:
and youth. And in the US alone, at least 54.8 • Adapt quickly to new learning environ-
million students have been affected by school ments so that they can in turn support
closures. (Forbes) their learners.
• Help their students develop the necessary
Many districts with internet access are shifting digital skills so they can use technology
to online learning due to the global pandemic. effectively in support of their learning.
However, many education systems are • Create curriculum that can be easily shared
ill-equipped to quickly make this transition online and has clear instructions that make
sense to all recipients.
for all students at scale. Technology and
infrastructure are essential to sustain school • Enable frequent collaboration and
communication to make sure no student
programs at a safe distance, but they’re often
feels alone and helpless.
expensive and require a steep learning curve.
Even more importantly, widespread quarantine Finally, the last (and arguably most important)
enforcement is also disrupting routines for obstacle that teachers face during the global
students. Many kids feel confused, sad, worried, health crisis is declining student engagement.
Research has historically indicated strong
correlations between student engagement
(defined as sustained focus, active participation
in learning, and time spent on tasks) and
student achievement. Students who are
inattentive, withdrawn, and disengaged have
poorer academic performance when compared
to highly engaged learners. Consequently, as
students are forced to navigate this “new normal”
of self-driven, online learning, engaging syllabi
and assignments are critical to their success.
To avoid permanent setbacks in education,
successful educators are looking for tools that
fulfill three essential needs to improve the
online learning experience:
1. Personalized learning paths
2. Accurate assessments of student performance
3. Self-driven, empowered students