The debate over the end to snow days is not over. While some people feel upset by the idea of snow day, others believe they are a valuable tradition that should be kept. In this article, we'll examine the impact on lower-income families and the cost of switching from snow days to remote learning.
New York City's plans to eliminate snow days
New York City Department of Education has changed its policy to prohibit students from staying home during snow days. Instead, they will offer virtual classes and remote learning. The 2021-22 school year will see the change. The plan is not without its challenges. Extreme weather could cause disruptions to the city's power grid. Some schools may lose Internet access.
The decision was criticized across the country as a drastic measure. Snow days were a time when people would stay up late and play in the snow. This year, though, the snowdays will become rare. David C. Banks (New York City School Chancellor) explained that this new policy will ensure students can continue to learn, even in the snow.
Alternatives to Remote Learning
Remote learning has become a popular trend in schools. The New York Department of Education issued this year a note on remote learning. 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 opt out of traditional snow day altogether while others use flexible instruction. For example, the Philadelphia School District didn't hold traditional winter days in 2019-20, noting the inclement weather should not be an excuse to cancel classes. Neshaminy's superintendent Mark Reilly stated in Pennsylvania that snow days are a rite of passage for students, but he does not support permanent learning via remote.
Impact on lower-income families
Many families with lower incomes have struggled to pay their basic needs due to the recent Northeast snowstorm that closed schools. In addition to the cost of supplies and fuel, three to four days off from school can throw a wrench in budgets already stretched thin. A family's inability to attend school could mean they miss three or four meals each day, increasing their risk of 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 have found that many children are not able to attend school because of inclement weather. Even though students who return from school after a snowday are not able to complete the same lesson, teachers compensate for this by adding the material back into their lesson plans.
Cost of learning remotely on a snowy day
Schools must think about switching to remote learning when it is snowing. Schools are encouraged to offer this option in Connecticut for several reasons. A snowstorm can knock out power and prevent people from accessing the internet, which can make learning at school impossible. Remote learning can prove to be a viable solution in such situations. Some districts, such as the Old Saybrook school district, are considering a transition to this learning model. Remote learning gives students the option of choosing their time and place. This allows school districts to avoid expensive and time-consuming scenarios 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. Schools have in the past cancelled classes on snow day to comply with their 180-day deadline. Some people dislike the idea of schools switching to remote learning for snow days.
FAQ
What does eLearning mean?
E-learning takes a lot of effort and time. It also requires an understanding of how people learn. The learning experience should focus on what learners are looking to accomplish.
The content should be engaging and pertinent. Learning materials must include visual aids such videos, images, animations, interactive elements, and animations.
E-learning needs to be entertaining and fun. It should have a strong focus on learner motivation. It should provide feedback and encouragement to learners who are hard at work towards achieving their goals.
What are the biggest obstacles that prevent e-learning from being a success?
The biggest challenge in e-Learning lies not in technicality but rather in culture. It's about people, and how they interact.
Understanding what motivates and how they learn best is key. 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 much multimedia can an eLearning course include?
The answer will depend on what you want. If you're looking to quickly deliver information, less may be better. For those who are interested in delivering training that will teach people how they can do something, though, it may be worth having more.
It is important to understand what you want from your eLearning course. Understanding what learners expect from your course is essential. This will enable you to ensure that you have enough content to achieve your objectives.
Here's an example:
If you want to teach people about using Microsoft Word, then it would be best to include lots of examples of text documents. However, you should show people many types of Excel spreadsheets if you want them to learn how to use it.
You should also consider whether images or video are best to illustrate concepts.
Video is great for demonstrating how to do something but not for explaining complicated topics. It is also expensive to produce. Images are cheaper to produce, but they don't convey the same level of emotion as a video.
The bottom line is to think carefully about the end result before designing your eLearning courses.
Where is eLearning used?
People who are unable to attend face-to–face classes can learn online at their own pace. You can also use it to teach others how to do things.
E-Learning is a popular option for businesses as it can be used in training programs.
E-Learning is gaining popularity in schools because it helps to save money and time.
Statistics
- 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)
- However, e-learning courses that are engaging, well-designed, and interesting are likely to be perceived as useful by e-learners (Roca & Gagné, 2008). (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)
- India's PC market clocks 9.2% growth to 3.4 million units in the September quarter (economictimes.indiatimes.com)
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How To
What technology should I choose?
There are many options available depending on the device your learner uses.
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Computer-based courses should be delivered on a computer.
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Mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, can be used for eLearning courses.
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A combination of both mobile devices and computers can be used to deliver courses.
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Some organizations offer eLearning courses on DVD discs which can be viewed on any computer.
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The most popular option is to create web pages where users can view the material online.
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Some hybrid solutions allow you to deliver a portion of your course through a website, while the other part is delivered on a CD or DVD.
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Some organizations offer free eLearning courses via the telephone. These courses can also be recorded by the learners and played back later.