Elementary students in Northern Ontario returned to school as planned on Monday, but in Southern Ontario they will continue learning from home until at least January 25th.
But according to experts, the current online learning system places a lot of emphasis on synchronous learning—a teacher gives a live lesson via video call—which does not provide much flexibility in learning.
Glossary: synchronous or asynchronous learning?
L'synchronous learning it means learning happens in real time. It involves the use of text, video or communication between teachers and students through teleconferencing applications.
L'asynchronous learning it means that learning is delayed. Students can be asked to watch pre-recorded video lessons, complete assignments independently, or participate in online discussion groups.
According to Beyhan Farhadi, a researcher at York University's Faculty of Education, today's online learning system places a heavy emphasis on synchronous learning, which poses many challenges.
Beyhan Farhadi is a former high school teacher and currently a research fellow in the Faculty of Education at York University.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Kat Rizza
What worries me at the end of the day is that we will see discouraged young people and more and more absentees from class.
, he explained. For Ms. Farhadi, a more asynchronous and independent learning system is needed.
Teachers can't do much about it, because they can't change the external circumstances that limit students' ability to participate.
adds the one who taught English in secondary school a few months ago.
Does synchronous learning work?
According to the Ontario Ministry of Education, synchronous learning It promotes the well-being and academic performance of all students, including those with special needs, by providing an interactive and engaging way for teachers and students to learn.
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It gives the teacher a chance providing instant feedback to students and allowing students to interact
we can read it on his website.
Anne Vinet-Roy is the president of the Franco-Ontarian Teachers' Association (AEFO).
Photo: Radio-Canada / Pierre-Olivier Bernatchez
What the Minister of Education is asking is fine, but in reality it has a lot of negative effects not only on employees, but also on families.
emphasizes Anne Vinet-Roy, president of the Franco-Ontarian Association of Teachers (AEFO).
He sees synchronous learning as an attempt to stick to the regular school curriculum, despite the current exceptional situation. But he thinks so It is unrealistic to expect children in fourth grade or kindergarten to spend hundreds of minutes in front of a screen. There are also experts who say it is not recommended
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Curriculum is one thing, but mental health is also important.
The solution, according to Mrs. Vinet-Roy, is the Ministry of Education be attentive to families and teachers. They are [mieux] positioned to know what to prioritize at the curriculum level
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A screenshot showing what tens of thousands of young people are experiencing in virtual learning.
Photo: Screenshot of a virtual school lesson
Supporting the importance of flexibility offered to teachers, he confirms this what's on paper against What can be done in humans are two different things
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If there is a slight lag with some knowledge or skills, is it really the end of the world? We should not panic if there are things that are not done as usual, because we are not as usual
It launches representing about 12,000 teachers in Ontario.
The challenges of distance education
Students in Southern Ontario will continue to learn from home until at least January 25th.
Photo: Radio-Canada
As thousands of families adjusted to distance education for their little ones last week following a provincial directive, more and more Ontario parents are struggling to learn at home.
or 5 in the morningpm”,”text”:”My children are very social, they need and want to be with friends. They don't want to stay at the desk in front of the computer, at 8:00 or 17:00.”}}” lang=fr>My children are very, very social, they need and want to be with their friends. They don't want to sit at the desk in front of the computer at 8:00 or 17:00.
emphasizes single mother Gemma Leggett, who lives in York Region, a suburb of Toronto
In the middle of an interview with Radio-Canada on Monday, Ms. Leggett had to interrupt herself to help her son, who came to her for help, enter a password to access a video call with his teacher.
Gemma Leggett is a single mother and works as an estate agent in Newmarket, York Region.
Photo: Courtesy of Gemma Leggett
That's how it is all day
he said to the journalist. Imagine I'm in a meeting with a client. I had a meeting this morning, and I couldn't make it.
For the latter, it is neither synchronous nor asynchronous learning that will allow his two youngsters to recover academic and social knowledge appropriate for their ages.
She recalled that her fifth-grade daughter is having a hard time with confinement in terms of her mental health, and her first-grade son is struggling to achieve the academic standards expected of a young man his age. Ms. Leggett points out that if the latter managed to learn to read and write in the last few months, her parents paid significant sums of money to tutor her.
It was going well, and now I can see how much longer it was [l’apprentissage virtuel] it will last, it will be worse for him.
At the beginning of the month, a survey carried out by ParentsPartners in Education (PPE) among 4,339 parents of French-speaking students, mostly in primary school, throughout the territory revealed 10% of households with one or more children say they have difficulty following online courses due to lack of hardware or insufficient internet connection.
The survey revealed that parents have difficulty finding their way through online French language educational resources, and that many have lost confidence in virtual learning in general.
The government offers support to parents and students
While the province has decided to extend the online learning period for elementary students in southern Ontario, the government is looking for solutions to support Ontario families.
Ontario is extending the online learning period for elementary students in southern Ontario.
We're providing an additional $80 million to support distance learning, child care and student mental health.https://t.co/ctdhLU3f2P pic.twitter.com/dSx9T0HxP2
— Caroline Mulroney (@C_Mulroney) January 8, 2021
Last week, Education Minister Stephen Lecce reiterated his government's commitment of $380 million to Ontario schools to improve heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.
The amount will also be used to finance the acquisition of more personal protective equipment and to hire more staff, especially maintenance and cleaning staff.
He also determined that $10 million will be provided to support student mental health, including funding for a bilingual youth intervention, information and support service. Young man, I'm listening (new window).
With information from CBC News and The Canadian Press