I taught in a computer lab for 3 years for “credit retrieval”. The lab was for middle school students that failed a course for the 9 wks and had to make it up. They sacrificed an elective until they passed the 9 wks with a “D”. The course was ALL online with me helping monitor and even help them “a little bit”. Dozens of students came through the lab. I thought to myself, “Stand and Deliver, Face-to-Face classroom teaching would be obsolete within the next 20 years”.
Later, because of class population issues, students started coming into the computer lab for advancement. Some of the students were completing a whole 9 wks worth of work within ONE WEEK with an “A”! I would have to send them to the media center or give them made up assignments to kinda, hold them back from finishing the whole year. After all, if they can complete a whole 9 wks in one week and pass the End of the Year exam, how long would it take to complete a whole year?
Then Covid hit and I changed my mind. Why? Testing scores, performance skills, mental health, & social skills all declined. Certified Speech Pathologists were reporting a significant delay on speech development (Gov.Article). Every state in the U.S., whether completely, partially, or open had lower gains in all subjects. So now I feel teaching in the classroom will not only be around in 20 years, but be cherished and honored.
Now the new threat is A.I. but in my opinion it won’t take over. You can’t replace the greatest learning for decades with solid scientific evidence, human beings learn better and faster face-to-face, hands on, scenario and solving, in classroom learning. It doesn’t matter where it is- public school, charter/private school, homeschool, or virtual/online learning, I see A.I., technology enhancing education within all these organizations and physical classrooms continuing to grow and thrive. All will excel. What are your opinions?—- J. Harrod
BTW- Read the U.S. government eduction goals for 2030 (Gov.Article)
