As a coordinator of elementary schools and instructional technology at Talladega County Schools in Alabama, I play an interesting dual role for the district. My two-part purpose has provided a firsthand look at traditional learning methods merging with newer technology. From this unique perspective, I’ve recognized that both print and online learning materials have significant benefits to students. Even though instructional technology can make learning more engaging to students with all the enticing bells and whistles, I’ve witnessed a real need for print resources in everyday teaching.
Print has been important in our blended schedule since COVID-19 began. Essentially, the pandemic forced us to adjust our methods of delivering instruction. Our blended model provides two days of learning at home and two days at school. The addition of print resources as take-home assignments has turned out to be a great success.
Print for parents
When operations shut down in the COVID spring, we immediately noticed that parents were struggling with the technology side of the equation. Print materials came to the rescue, making it easy for them to support their kids with packets and booklets. From the equity side, both print and technology are offered to ensure that all situations remain equal regardless of the home’s economic setup. All students and parents are better positioned for an optimal learning environment by providing online and print options.
For some parents, there is a built-in reluctance to technology that takes time to dissipate. I remember personally taking some time to move over to the Kindle, for instance. I missed holding and bookmarking a book, which gave me a sense of accomplishment. Now, I read both hard copies and digital and carry over this same approach for students. Options are useful when it comes to education.
I have found many students doing better with a hard copy in front of them. Talladega prides itself in teaching students how to code text, highlight, and underline meaningful information. Both tech and paper can play a significant role in this process.
Benefits for the teacher
It’s easier for teachers to assess what students are doing with print materials. When they have consumable math text, they can write in the booklets and work out problems. It becomes simpler to see where their learning is, compared to a student answering a multiple-choice quiz or assignment on the computer. Teachers at Talladega are comfortable doing both, but paper helps teachers dig deep and look at the inferences of learning with physical, tangible examples to back them up.
While print math benefits from transferring Chromebook assignments to the page, the use of reading materials and specifically Ready Reading has proved incredibly impactful. Each week, students have multiple assignments, with each unit containing five different reading passages. It’s helpful for students to mark up the text and easily refer back without relying on a screen to toggle back and forth. The bottom line is, print saves time and is less distracting for both the teacher and student.
How remote learning directly affected print adoption
Back in the spring, it was a scramble and hardship for all involved to get learning materials together. We were rushing to make packets, and parents were going back and forth to the school to get assignments. We wanted to avoid that situation again in the event we moved from a hybrid model to a fully remote position.
We are a 1:1 district with Chromebooks and access to hotspots for families without reliable internet. But even with those things in place, we felt we needed the security of knowing that students would have access to a worktext regardless of their home situation. Our circumstance led us to pull the trigger on Ready Math adoption for present-day learning with the assured protection from additional pandemic shifts. It was a choice that gave us comfort in knowing that regardless of the environment, students would be equipped to learn.
Limited print purchasing
There is a limit to the number of print materials we purchase ahead of time. Gone are the days of massive textbook purchasing, especially at the elementary level. Many of our schools have purchased the Ready Writing books on their own, but not district-wide. The teachers have enjoyed the Ready Writing resources because it helps them overcome writing challenges while also connecting nicely with the Ready Reading material.
In elementary, we use the Studies Weekly materials for science and social studies, and the material aligns with our standards. The weekly availability of new print material is a beneficial aspect. Outside of Ready Reading and Math, we rarely purchase textbooks at the elementary level. We have instructional technology resources and supplemental print material that we provide.
Looking ahead during COVID
We face the same challenges that other districts across the country experience in terms of COVID restrictions. I’m grateful that we can provide some face-to-face instruction for our students. I’m well aware that many districts in the U.S. are fully remote, which is concerning because there is no substitute for having a teacher when students are learning to read and use fundamental math skills at the elementary level. Knowing that we can provide a few days of in-person instruction is a true blessing, considering all the health concerns involved. With both online and print learning at our fingertips, it brings a certain level of comfort in knowing we are better prepared for all that lies ahead.
- 3 ways to avoid summer learning loss - April 19, 2024
- High school students say AI will change the workforce - April 18, 2024
- Motivating students using the Self-Determination Theory - April 17, 2024
