Virtual Learning Down Side
School prepares the child for life beyond 18, in some countries earlier than that. Teachers instill behaviour that will enable the adult to blend seamlessly in tax-paying society.
Then came Covid-19 and the world stood still. We had to avoid other humans in all walks of life, including school. Most educational institutions suspended in-person schooling and sent students to their laptop computers to be taught virtually.
Book knowledge is the main ingredient, but schools also groom kids for other disciplines. Punctuality, whether parents drop them off in their cars, come by school bus or public transport. It’s something we seldom think about, but it’s important.
Most employers have what they call performance appraisals, where they assess staff. Is she a team player? Is she proactive? And guess what? Punctuality is part of the appraisal.
Schools also prepare kids for time management when they have jobs or self-employed. For example, the bell or public address system rings in the morning; during the day to change subjects and teachers; to announce lunch; and finally school out.
All this does not apply in virtual learning. There is no time management because students learn when they want or where they want. They don’t miss any lessons because they are in the computer.
They don’t have to like classmates because they are not there. They don’t have to wash and get ready for school, in some instances wear a school uniform.
The pandemic is almost over, but what happens if virtual learning replaces the building called a school? How will kids acquire skills such as time management and working in groups?
By: Nonqaba waka Msimang.
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