References
Morones, A. (2014). Snow Days Turn Into E-Learning Days for Some Schools. Education Week, 33(20), 6-7.
How can technology be used to eliminate snow days? Do you think this would be a good thing?
As stated in the article "Snow Days Turn into E-Learning Days for Some Schools" the flexibility with e-learning days is just starting to catch on. Of the State of Ohio's 614 regular school districts in 95 districts submitted a plans for e-learning days in 2014. They are continuing to get more everyday. This seems to be then rage that may over take the country. At least in those areas affected by harsh weather conditions that include lots of snow and brutal temperatures in the zero digits. Districts from Illinois to Virginia - and now in states farther south like Alabama and Georgia have lost regular school days. Instead of then having to make the days up in the Spring or for some school lose the instructional days completely. Why not have virtual school with E-earning.
"A 2008 study of Maryland public schools published in the Journal of Education Finance and Policy, it found that as snow days accumulated they did have a negative effect, particularity at the elementary level on student performance on state Reading and Math assessments."
So what does that mean and how does it work? Well there are many different facets or ways that it can be accomplished. In the state of Ohio one way is to implement e-learning days is the state requires districts teachers' to post lessons and assignments online for student to complete during the snow day. All the lessons would be items that the students are capable of completing with no help, so that parents would not have to be responsible in helping or teaching. Also, the due dates for the assignments would be 1 week out, so that children who do not have internet at home or a computer have extra time to complete the work. So many districts are going to one to one that the possibilities are endless as to the ways that the children can be taught, while being at home during a snow day. So, if the the children are completing the work then its as if the children did not miss a day, hence no snow day.
I do believe that this would be a good thing. Quite honestly while I enjoy a good snow day once in a while... it has to be made up, and I would much rather not have snow days so that I'm not stuck in the classroom on a beautiful Spring day when I wasn't scheduled to be there. Not only that, but as the days get closer to the end of the year holding students attention is somewhat difficult. So, I think most children would agree while sledding may be fun, being inside on a warm gorgeous day is not a lot of fun. If the E-learning is in place the students can get their work done, be safe in their home on the blustery day, and once their lessons are done can still run out for a little snow time.
While I don't like the idea of E-learning taking over the entire year, I do think that having it available for a few snow days that occur during the year is beneficial to keep the learning going, not getting behind with instruction, and not losing a day of instruction for those schools who have so many snow days that they don't make all of the days up. I still think there is a lot to be said for being in a classroom with students everyday, if it ever takes over the traditional ways of teaching I think would have to bow out. But, for a few snow days I like the idea.
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