The iJADE (International Journal of Art and Design Education) online conference in March 2021 was opened with keynote speaker Professor Diana Laurillard who is Professor of Leaning with Digital Technologies at the UCL Knowledge Lab. Her speech discussed innovation in blended approaches and online learning as well as highlighting opportunities for development of curriculums. She calls for a collaboration that can lead to a “bold new future”.
I’m torn. I know that my resistance to online learning is in part because I’m still slightly scarred from the experience of homeschooling my own 3 kids in two separate lockdowns. Both of which were completely different scenarios in the end (one totally unsupported leaving us metaphorically at sea and drifting along lost in a fog of Twinkle worksheets and the Tate kids website – the other being so overly supported that we were expected to do 8 zooms a day and the kids had 20 mins for lunch each at separate times) and not because I am averse to homeschooling at all. I wish I had it in me to do it all the time really but with three of them at such different points in education I just couldn’t do it. It would have to be my full time job and I think I am better suited to other things, the kids would agree I think. My 7 year old is already better at maths than me, it’s no fun for anyone. I would need lots of time to prep myself through it in order to serve them properly and give them what they deserve. I am not a massive fan of the UK education system, although I realise it’s good in comparison to a lot of the world and I might add that I am not criticising teachers or schools, who are extremely hard working and under paid and under valued. I am however critiquing the government and dept for education who are both a crock of shit.
Anyway so yeah I am torn about online learning. It has a lot of benefits and could particularly help kids in the Global South too, it could provide a level of accessibility that’s unprecedented and important. But it also makes my heart sink a bit. Having taught kids I a room with me and online, there’s no comparison. Feeling the vibe of the room the ensuing engagement, allowing for improv and curiosity to guide us, creating connection that lasts and has value. Online is just not the same. Magic happens when people are in a room together and it’s hard to forget that when you stare at screen all day.
I like this image though, it’s a good visual explanation of learning. Taken from Diana Laurillard’s work.