Our discussion this week focused on online learning, and we took a deep dive in exploring the benefits and challenges of teaching in an online environment. I graduated from high school in 2011 and prior to Covid-19, teaching online was never an option explored throughout my education. Although Zoom, Skype and other online platforms existed, I always remember the idea of learning as something that needed to be done in the classroom and was not something that could be done anywhere else. While digital tools in the classroom were extremely limited if not obsolete, Covid-19 completely changed and shattered this notion of mine as our society proved that we could implement and adapt to online education. Since I completed my education prior to the pandemic, I never experienced the transition to a purely online learning environment, and I was always very thankful for that. I personally feel that I am most successful in a synchronous setting where I am forced to actually attend and sit in lecture, and I feel that I would find it very difficult to focus and be present if the classes were held solely online. However, I think it is important to note that online learning does hold value in society and is a topic that will continue to hold great relevance and importance. Online learning opens up the doors to so many possibilities and provides people with the opportunity and freedom to complete their schooling from anywhere around the world.

Photo by Sincerely Media

As a teacher, I think it is very important for me to work on strengthening my digital literacy skills. Since online learning has become integrated and is an important part of our education system, I think the more equipped I feel using different types of technology, the more success I will bring to my students. As a Social Studies teacher, I want to focus on giving students the opportunity to express themselves using digital tools and I would assign projects that allow students to create videos or podcasts to demonstrate their learnings on a topic.