The Return to the Classroom – How do you level set and ensure no child is left behind?

As students begin to return to the classroom, it’s clear that traditional learning has changed forever. Teachers, parents, and educational institutions must think carefully and act swiftly to ensure many months of education disruption don’t negatively impact a generation of learners.

 While positive, the return to school comes with concerns around gaps in education due to extended periods of home-based learning. Across the average classroom, some students may have progressed, while others will have fallen behind. According to Dr. Megan Kuhfeld and Dr. Beth Tarasawa, who jointly authored a Northwest Evaluation Association’s (NWEA) policy brief, the impact is not unlike those commonly seen after school summer vacations, something they refer to as the “summer slide.” However, the pandemic’s effect will likely have caused more damage. Estimates suggest that shutdown disruption could mean students only retain 70 percent of their annual learning gains in reading, while, for math, between 50 to 100 percent of the achievement growth expected in a full academic year could be lost. With ongoing changes in the classroom, the issue of rebalancing levels across classes is yet another challenge for educators to deal with.

 So, what can be done to ensure consistency and that no child is left behind?

 Eliminate Distractions

The school will be a different place for students returning to the classroom and, as a result, filled with distractions. Helping classes to remain focused on the task at hand will be essential. For this, they need tools that enable them to engage and concentrate, such as the Logitech H111 headset to reduce background noise. Plug and play tools that are easy to deploy and use can make all the difference here, ensuring hands are raised to ask questions that are on-topic, not tech support related.

 Enhance Productivity

Providing simple, powerful solutions for collaboration and productivity enables students to learn and complete tasks effectively. Using accessories like mice for precision control and smooth movement between education applications, external keyboards for faster typing, and digital pencils for intuitive note-taking and drawing is now more important than ever. Logitech’s B100 wired mouse and M325 wireless mouse enable students to scroll and click more precisely than when using a laptop’s trackpad. With Logitech Crayon, students can quickly take notes or express their ideas in a more natural way with Apple iPad solutions. Logitech solutions work with Windows, Mac, Chromebook, and iPad so, whether students use Apple, Microsoft, or Google devices, Logitech has them covered.

Teacher Support

Teachers must focus on helping students to catch up on topics and tailor individualized learning plans for those in need of support. Planning lessons will be crucial, as will developing pre-recorded content for individual students or smaller groups to digest. Software like Logitech Capture for recording lessons to use outside of school will play a major role in providing additional teaching to those who have fallen behind, helping them fill in the blanks between lessons, as described in this article. Teachers must also ensure the tools they use can be quickly moved between locations so they can prepare at home and teach in person or remotely if required.    

 Independent Learning

Providing students with tools to help them learn at their best outside of school will help to squeeze more learning into their day. With access to devices that are easy to use and are compatible across platforms, they will be able to engage with assignments at home and complete tasks efficiently, meaning learning can be enhanced beyond the classroom. Logitech solutions compatible with iPad, such as the Rugged Combo 3 keyboard case and Wired Keyboard, can help improve productivity on such devices, while headsets and webcams can aid engagement with independent learning. 

 A Video First Approach

To help students catch up after a prolonged period away from the classroom, ensuring educators and students stay connected and make use of all available space for learning will be essential. This is particularly true in such uncertain times where education institutions may be required to quickly return to virtual learning. Support remote students by ensuring classrooms that were not previously equipped are fully video-enabled to allow for instructor-facing and classroom virtual connections as well as additional classes for individuals or smaller groups of students that require additional support. Doing so will enable enough chairs to be removed to maintain social distancing while giving staff and students more flexibility to connect, making better use of school space, and lifting limitations on where teaching and learning can happen.

 Keep Talking

The return to the classroom will be different for everyone and will require collaboration between teachers, students, and parents. Regular conversations using virtual technology will help to generate valuable feedback to improve teaching, identify opportunities, and overcome obstacles. Online collaborative spaces where teachers can help each other by sharing best practices, what’s working, and what’s not will also help drive positive change and support students.

It won’t be easy, but by focusing on the needs of students and applying the right technology to support traditional and new methods of learning, these significant challenges can be overcome, and educators can ensure that no child is left behind. Logitech’s breadth of productivity and collaboration solutions help teachers and students enhance learning in and out of the classroom. From high-quality webcams and headsets to powerful peripherals like mice and keyboards, they provide the plug-and-play simplicity and ease of use required to make the return to the classroom a more positive and engaging experience.

Discover how Logitech products can enhance teaching and learning experiences as students return to the classroom: https://www.logitech.com/en-us/education/classroom-solutions.html