The end of snow days is a debate that is far from over. Some are unhappy about snow days. Others believe that they are a good tradition to keep. We will be looking at the impact of snow days on lower-income families, as well as the cost to switch from remote learning to snow days.
New York City's plan to abandon snow days
In a new policy, the New York City Department of Education will not allow students to stay home on snow days. They will instead offer virtual and remote learning. The 2021-22 school year will see the change. This plan comes with its own challenges. The city's power grid might be affected by severe weather. Some schools might lose Internet access.
This was criticized by the entire country as an extreme measure. In the past snow days were synonymous with late nights and playing in snow. Snowdays this year will be rarer. David C. Banks, NYC School Chief, stated that this policy will make sure that students can still learn in the snow.
Alternatives for remote learning
Remote learning has become a popular trend in schools. The New York Department of Education released a note about remote learning this year. Many school districts have made the transition to online classroom instruction. However, many aren't sure how remote learning will work when it snows.
Some school districts have chosen to not hold traditional snow days, while others choose to use flexible instructional days. For the 2019-20 school year, the School District of Philadelphia didn't have traditional snow days, noting that inclement weather shouldn’t be a reason for cancelling classes. Neshaminy superintendent Mark Reilly stated that snow days are an important rite for children, but he did not support permanent switching to remote learning.
Impact on lower-income families
Many families on lower income have found it hard to cover their basic needs after the recent Northeast snow storm. Three to four days without school can cause budget problems. Some families may find that they cannot attend school, which can lead to food insecurity. This is especially true of lower-income families, who are often dependent on food assistance or free or reduced-priced meals to get by.
Researchers from the National Bureau of Economic Research discovered that many children skip school in bad weather, and thus miss out on lessons. Although students returning to school from a snow day miss the same lesson, teachers make up the difference by revising their lesson plans.
Cost of switching to remote learning on a snow day
Schools must think about switching to remote learning when it is snowing. Schools should offer this option for many reasons, according to Connecticut. A snowstorm can knock out power and prevent people from accessing the internet, which can make learning at school impossible. In these situations, remote learning can be an effective solution. Some districts like Old Saybrook are contemplating a move to this type of learning. By offering students a choice of time and place, remote learning can help school districts avoid a potentially costly and time-consuming scenario for parents.
Although it can be expensive to switch to remote learning during a snow day, this is an effective way for schools not to incur additional costs. In the past, schools have often cancelled classes on snow days so they could meet their 180-day mandate. Schools can switch to remote learning during snow days to fulfill this mandate. This is something some people don’t like.
FAQ
What are some of the key obstacles to eLearning success?
The biggest challenge in e-Learning lies not in technicality but rather in culture. It's about people and how they interact.
We need to understand what motivates them and how they learn best. We also need to know what makes them feel comfortable learning online.
This is where it's important to find ways of making this experience as natural and enjoyable as possible.
How can I choose the right eLearning platform?
There are thousands upon thousands of eLearning platform options today. Some are free while some are more costly.
When choosing between these options, you need to ask yourself some questions.
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Do you have the desire to create your own learning materials. You have many options to create your eLearning courses using free tools. These include Adobe Captivate. Articulate Storyline. Lectora. iSpring Suite. And Camtasia.
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Are there eLearning courses that can be purchased pre-packaged? There are many companies that sell pre-packaged courses. These courses cost between $20 and $100. Mindjet (Edusoft), and Thinkful are three of the most highly-respected.
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What if I want to combine both? Many people find that mixing their own materials with those supplied by companies produces the best results.
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Which option would be best for you? It all depends on what your situation is. If you are just starting out with eLearning, you might consider creating your own materials. However, once you have gained experience, you may want to consider purchasing a pre-designed course.
What is eLearning exactly?
E-learning can be used to learn online for individuals, institutions, and organizations. It allows you to deliver information and instruction using electronic media like computers and mobile devices.
This type of learning uses technology, not physical materials, to deliver the content.
E-learning does not have to be done in a traditional classroom setting. It can also be done at home, on the move, or anywhere else that has internet access.
What are the systems used for e-learning?
E-learning is an online learning system where students learn from a computer screen. Interactive activities like quizzes, tests and discussions are possible.
E-learning also offers web-based programs that enable users to access information from the internet through a computer. This type of program is commonly referred to as "online education."
Statistics
- Interestingly, students' participation in online training grew by 142% in the past year alone, indicating how quality education and up-to-date teaching pedagogy are preferred by learners and working professionals to upskill across India. (economictimes.indiatimes.com)
- Hedonism incorporates intrinsic motivation, including novelty, challenge, excitement, and pleasure (Schwartz et al., 2012), which is likely to predict user perception of e-learning enjoyment. (sciencedirect.com)
- The UK sample was relatively balanced in terms of gender (56% male) compared to the Gambian group (77% male). (sciencedirect.com)
- E-learning is intended to enhance individual-level performance, and therefore intend to use of e-learning should be predicted by a learner's preference for self-enhancement (Veiga, Floyd, & Dechant, 2001). (sciencedirect.com)
External Links
How To
Why is e-learning important?
E-Learning is an effective way for companies to keep their employees engaged at all times. They can learn from one another as well as experts. This helps them stay competitive and gain valuable knowledge.
E-Learning also provides opportunities for employees to interact with each other, creating a sense of community.
E-Learning is growing in popularity due to its low cost and high efficiency. Companies realize they don’t have to employ additional staff to help their existing employees.
Here are some benefits to e-learning.
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Low Cost – There is no need for you to purchase expensive equipment, such as projectors or computers. Access to the Internet is all that's required.
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E-Learning can be more efficient than traditional training methods.
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Flexibility- Employees are able to access eLearning anytime and anywhere. They don't need to go to class to get training.
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You can customize e-learning. It can be presented however the learner prefers.
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Learning is self-paced. Students can complete the course at their own pace without worrying about being graded.
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Interactive e-learning allows learners the opportunity to interact with one another via polls and discussions.
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Accessible - Anyone can access E-learning if they have an internet connection.
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Interactivity - E-learning encourages interaction between teachers and students. This makes learning more fun and exciting.
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Relevance – E-learning is relevant for the learner's current job. This means that he/she is able to immediately put what he/she learned into practice.
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Social Learning - This enables learners and their peers to share their ideas and experiences via e-learning. This encourages collaboration and peer learning.
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Collaboration - Elearning allows learners to share their knowledge with one another. This improves communication skills and teamwork.
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Personalized Learning-E-learning allows users to tailor their learning experience. This makes it more interactive and fun.
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Online Communities – People can form virtual communities using e-learning. This gives them a sense belonging.
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Peer Feedback – E-learning offers feedback to learners on their performance based on peer feedback. This encourages them to improve their performance.
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Repeatability – E learning can be repeated at any time.
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Portability: E-learning can be accessed via different devices such tablets, smartphones, laptops and other mobile devices.
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Scalability - Elearning can be scaled easily.
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Multimedia Content- E-learning makes multimedia content available to enhance learning.
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Digital Library - Elearning offers digital libraries that allow learners to store their resources. These can be easily retrieved at a later date.
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Mobile Learning - Now, E-learning can be delivered via tablets and mobile phones.
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AdaptiveLearning - Elearning adapts to the learner's level.
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Gamification - E-learning incorporates game elements into the learning process. This enhances motivation and engagement.
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Virtual Classrooms: E-learning allows teachers and students to communicate via virtual classrooms.
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Realtime Communication - Elearning facilitates real time communication between students and teachers.
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Remote Learning-E-learning is conducted remotely by both the student and the teacher.
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Distance Education – E-learning can be described as distance education, because it is done over a long time.
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Open Source Learning - E-learning uses open source software so that everyone can access and use the same material.