Episode: 524

Episode Title: Flexibility For Students

Should students be allowed more flexibility in their education journey? Let’s talk about it, coming up next on The Perna Syndicate.

Ep 524 show:

Hello and welcome to The Perna Syndicate today! This week we’ve been talking about the need for teachers to have more flexibility and how online and blending learning can help with that. But what about students? Is online or blended learning actually good for them, too?

First we have to remember that the overnight switch to remote learning in 2020 was crisis learning—not true online learning. Thoughtfully designed online and blended learning models can be highly effective. Options like this allow students who want to get ahead or discover new interests to take classes that may not be available in their local district.

And this model doesn’t mean kids have to be glued to their computer screens all day. One Florida school blends online curriculum in the afternoon with hands-on experiences on a working farm in the morning. Students learn life skills that they wouldn’t get in a traditional setting through farming, permaculture, surfing, skateboarding, and mindfulness.

Another pro of online learning is the individualized pace. If they need to spend more time on a particular lesson to truly understand it, they can do so. Others who master the lesson quickly can move on without having to wait for the rest of the class. All of this is naturally tougher to accommodate in a physical classroom. 

As the world continues to shift, flexibility in learning will become more and more mainstream. Keeping student success at the heart of these changes will ensure that they truly do work effectively for the young people we serve. 

Tomorrow: what happens if education doesn’t embrace flexibility? On the next episode of The Perna Syndicate, we’ll talk about it. Take care and we’ll see you then!