Online Learning Day
I hesitated to write about this national day because I feel like it hits too close to home too soon. Most of us are living a virtual lifestyle daily and we don’t want to get comfy with this new normal. Celebrating National Online Learning Day this year seems so BLAH. After all, if we have school-aged children, online learning is a double-edged sword. On one hand, we’re so grateful that learning can happen virtually and on the other hand, we are so bummed that learning can happen virtually.
We should definitely celebrate the online learning that occurs for each and every one of us every single day. That’s right, it’s called Google University and You Tube College. I haven’t received confirmation from nationaldaycalendar.com yet but I asked if online learning included learning things via Google or You Tube. I’m pretty sure it does. These websites are resources with a plethora - an endless amount - of information about every topic. My hairstylist learned how to fix her furnace and dishwasher by watching You Tube videos. A young couple with small children wanted to move to Costa Rica but wanted to ensure their own source of income. They Googled how to make beer and open a brewery. Within a year they moved their family to Costa Rica and were in business. Remarkable since they had never made beer before. The influencer Jasmine Star didn’t know how to use her new camera before she went into the professional photography business. With a click of a mouse she taught herself how to use it by Googling all that she needed to know in order to get started. My use of You Tube isn’t as exciting as Jasmine’s but I do learn how to do things like tie a tie and use my Green Egg grill. Online learning occurs multiple times a month, week, day, hour because we have access to so much information. That’s a reason to celebrate. What did we do before the internet?
When National Online Learning Day (September 15th) was established and registered with Nationaldaycalendar.com back in July of 2016, we couldn’t have known that there would be a virus (COVID-19) that would make online learning a NECESSITY. According to the site, the intention of this day was to “ …recognize the online education community with an official day focusing on the significant achievements made through online schooling and the students attending.”
For the 2020-21 school year, pre-schoolers to college students everywhere are learning online daily because we are living thru a pandemic. Even those students who are going to private schools everyday, at some point, will receive some virtual lessons in some shape or form. In March when schools switched to remote learning, there were many trials and tribulations across the nation. However with patience and grace most families did the best they could to have some sort of semblance of online education. There were many “firsts” in terms of online learning; both in giving and in receiving information. And the platform Zoom became a household name in a matter of days. Zoom will always be known to have bridged a gap during this historical time.
One wonderful thoughtful pinch that I learned from our Head of School today is to send a note to the teachers because these first few weeks of school hasn’t been easy for them. The note can give positive feedback , share an “aha” moment, be a note of appreciation etc. But the most important part of this pinch are three key words: “No reply necessary.” I think that is very fitting to give to a teacher on National Online Learning Day.
There are plenty of memes and funny posts going around that would be appreciated if shared with parents and educators. Below I give a few silver linings in regards to online learning:
Our homes are more precious to us these days. We appreciate our spaces more than ever and we are learning how to really LIVE together. Our homes have become work places, school rooms, cafeterias/restaurants, home gyms, movie theaters and bedrooms all in one dwelling. One common denominator for the majority of our homes these days - a desk or study area designated/established for online learning.
For this school year, many assignments are online so the most important school supply needed for this Fall is an iPad, desktop or laptop. Even if school supplies are needed, chances are not as much as what we needed in years past.
Back to School clothes shopping was a breeze. Not to mention, the battles with my daughter about what she wears to school have been cut in half. Heck, while we’re at it, the loads of laundry have been cut in half as well!
Since most family members are home these days for work and online learning, more pandemic puppies and pets continue to add joy to our homes. Because everyone is around to help, the caring for pets is much easier. Bonus: pets help diminish boredom.
One last thing that I wanted to share is a thought that actually goes against online learning but in an endearing way. My friend Christy told me about a pact that she made with her daughter before leaving for her first year of college (she has since graduated two years ago). Christy was afraid that her daughter would not call her as much since everything could be learned online. Christy calls her own mother for advice on just about everything and she asked her daughter to promise to check with her before learning about things online. I hadn’t even considered how much we learn online until Christy mentioned it. Unfortunately, I don’t think I can make that pact with my daughter because I think that ship has sailed. Since then, Google, Alexa and Siri have made finding answers much too easy these days. However, I will continue to focus on teaching both kids about thoughtfulness, gratitude and self-awareness. Although we can learn about these concepts online (Thoughtful Pinch is an online guide for thoughtfulness ), there are still things we should learn from our parents and elders.
Here’s hoping that online learning for our kids on 9/15/21 is a lot less than it is on 9/15/20!
Pinches,
Barb
