New Technology and New Rules

 Hello, my name is Jazmine Howard. Although, I am not currently an educator I have siblings who are experiencing education in a way I would have never imagined before. From hybrid learning to strictly at home online school for the whole world. The COVID-19 pandemic has really challenged many educators and made everyone readjust. Growing up the focus was to not depend on technology so much and to use it as a secondary learning tool. Times have changed drastically now, it went from secondary to now being the main source of teaching online. My biggest concern during this pandemic were the teachers who weren't as savvy with digital technologies, and families who did not have the resources to allow their children to partake in online school. As a result, students were not as taught or had the best experience with online learning. Also, for the families who did not have technology in their home how they missed the opportunity to learn like the rest. The purpose of this blog is to bring awareness that digital technologies and technology in general is not to be used as secondary anymore. It is necessary to teach and must be the used to continue teaching because this pandemic as we all know has left us all confused. 

I want to introduce resources I found that are there for teacher's who need help with teaching in this new digital world and resources for families that need help finding resources for their children. 

1. https://www.edutopia.org/article/how-help-teachers-learn-new-technology 

This article is helpful for new teachers who aren't familiar with new technology or teaching using digital and social platforms. Articles like these are important because they are written by teachers who were in the same position. Sometimes watching videos and doing the bare minimum is not enough to keep students engaged and interactive while they are home. One of my favorite parts of this article is the mention of 'lunch and learns' where teachers and students are able to have short talks and sessions outside of the actual learning throughout the day. Teachers should know that the pressure is not all on them and that there are resources available to make hybrid and virtual learning easier. 

2. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/education/2021/02/04/covid-online-school-broadband-internet-laptops/3930744001/

What I didn't know and what many others weren't aware of the start of this pandemic is if every student had access to the internet and would be able to continue to learn at home. Teachers would go above and beyond to figure out those students and create 'at home packets, homework, and resources' and even then most communities offer assistance and chromebooks which I was not aware of as well. When it comes to students even being able to access the internet in the most recent CARES Act relief package it included money for low-income families to pay for this.

There are many resources and articles that are beneficial, necessary and useful for all new teachers and parents during this difficult time. These two only show a glimpse but I believe they teach those who are unaware of how hard change can be and how hard having to do something new and correct for the first time is. Teacher's are expected to know it all and if they don't it is them to blame but now they other just like them who are confused and learning new things all over.