Stop Saying Virtual Learning Does Not Work

Abstract

Based on the experience of an early childhood educator and the current scholarly research, this chapter describes what can be done to effectively teach K-3 students from a distance. From the learning management systems that forgot to optimize their servers for an onslaught of hundreds of thousands of more students, to the schools that wanted to reopen but could not afford to buy air purifiers any more than they could buy soap or toilet paper for student bathrooms, no one in U.S. schools was prepared for the COVID-19 pandemic. Stakeholders need to stop saying virtual learning does not work for these students, and implement effective strategies moving forward. In this chapter, the current literature on online learning is reviewed as a guide for effective K-3 teaching, and examples are provided of successful tools from experiences of the authors as K-3 teachers and parents.

Teachers’ perspectives of utilizing distance learning to support 21st century skill attainment for K-3 elementary students during the COVID-19 pandemic era

“…Given the COVID-19 pandemic's concentration on K–3 environments, it is critical to address the special issues and difficulties that are relevant to this age range. This entails highlighting the value of early 21st-century skill development, using age-appropriate educational strategies, and encouraging parental engagement [ 19 ]. By taking these factors into account, educators and decision-makers may develop a friendly and welcoming distance learning environment that gives young students the skills they need to succeed in a changing global context.…”