As I am writing this, a third of our world is on lockdown because of the current pandemic and the educational systems are facing the challenge of online classes. Are they a short term solution to this crisis or a feasible future scenario? Teachers, parents, and pupils all over Europe seem to disagree with prolonging virtual school as it poses social, psychological, learning, and technical issues.

According to El Pais, in Madrid only there are 1.2 million students and not all of them take online lessons. Spanish parents with preschoolers, who are currently working from home, feel overwhelmed. Online classes are impractical, because of their kid’s short attention span and also because children at this age are very active and need more play. Meanwhile, working parents need a quiet environment to be able to focus on.

Some schools manage to pull off online lessons for preschoolers

We explored 100 private schools in Bucharest, capital of Romania, that offer virtual classes for all ages, from preschoolers to secondary school. Based on the Reggio Emilia approach, they have always encouraged adaptability in their students. Andrada Militaru, the school owner, believes “we will come out of this crisis stronger, more creative, more united and more prepared for the future”. According to her, the advantage of virtual school is that some classes are available to children from other cities or even from abroad. Also, relationships between students, parents, and teachers are thus maintained.

Does Online School take teachers out of their comfort zone?

However, she admits to having experienced technical issues. Pupils can get frustrated at times when they cannot see or hear each other or the teacher. Online interaction makes kids yearn for simple things, like playing together during the breaks or hugging. Mrs. Militaru has noticed online classes have taken “some teachers out of their comfort zone, but because they are creative by definition, they have adapted”.

Another challenge all European countries in lockdown are confronted with is the wide access to education, as poorer pupils are disadvantaged. Not all families own more than one laptop or tablet and the siblings have to share it, or sometimes parents have to use the same device. The Guardian reports that local councils in the UK might be sued by The Good Law Project to push the government into ensuring wide access to online school.

Watch out for health problems!

Last, but not least, exposing children to screens for hours every day might impact their health in various ways. It can affect their vision, hands, and posture. It can weaken their communication skills in a time when social relationships are very limited anyway.

How this might affect their future development as teens and adults is still early to say.

But all in all, going back to the classroom is another reason for everyone to hope and pray for the pandemic to end and the world to return to normal.

What’s your experience with this? Leave us a comment!

 

Thanks for the awesome pics McKaela Lee, Annie Spratt & Sharon McCutcheon!