Students across the country may soon have to say goodbye to their beloved “lazy” snow days, as the Washington Post reports that many educators and school officials are urging students to continue their schoolwork during snow days to help them stay focused on learning.
With many schools participating in 1:1 programs and BYOD, it is now easier than ever before for students to stay connected to school.The article reports that Arlington Public Schools keep students connected to school through the iPads and laptops the district has provided students. Students as young as third grade can easily communicate directly with their teachers and complete assignments planned for that day.
“In Arlington, we really are moving towards 24/7 learning,” said Connie Skelton, assistant superintendent of instruction. Year-round, some teachers already use a “flipped classroom” model, in which they deliver lessons through videos and then use class time for assignments and activities.
For students participating in a flipped classroom, instruction is already delivered online, making it much easier for students to stay focused on school and learning even if they cannot participate in classroom activities. However, students learning in a traditional classroom don’t have access to online instructional content while at home, putting them at risk of falling behind, especially when snow causes schools to close for multiple days.
Many traditional schools have taken steps towards providing students with learning opportunities on snow days despite not having an online instruction program integrated into their curricula. Arlington Public Schools, for example, created an online “Snow Learning Page” consisting of snow-related learning activities for parents to do with their children.
While these activities provide students with an opportunity to learn outside of school, accessing online learning pages still require the internet and a device. Although technology seems to be everywhere, not all students have access to devices at home.
This is when 1:1 programs can truly change and improve education. Providing students with equal access to educational content, courses and activities levels the playing field and has great potential to improve learning.
With technology integration on the rise in K-12 education, students may one day see the demise of snow days. However, until schools have data and proof that access to 24/7 learning has truly made an impact on learning, many students will continue participating in the traditional activities of snow days- sleeping in and building snowmen.
If you enjoyed this article and want to receive more valuable industry content like this, click here to sign up for our digital newsletters!
Leave a Reply