Onsite vs Online Learning: How will most people attend school in 2020-21?
Three weeks ago, on July 9th, Ark. Governor Asa Hutchinson announced that the 2020-21 school year will begin the week of August 24, and no later than August 26.
This Thursday, school districts in Saline County have begun releasing calendars for the upcoming school year, as well as further information regarding the reopening of schools. So far, Bauxite, Benton, and Bryant have announced that August 24 will be the first day of school.
In accordance with the Governor’s announcement and the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) guidelines, Bauxite, Benton, Bryant, and Harmony Grove have further announced that each student must declare either onsite or virtual learning for the 2020-21 school year.
Onsite learning will be “blended,” meaning that in addition to in-class instruction, all assignments will be posted online for students who become ill or have to quarantine for any reason. This “blended” learning will also require teachers and students to be prepared to switch from face-to-face to remote instruction quickly and efficiently, if the need should arise.
Onsite learning will involve many new safety guidelines for COVID19, many of which have been released this week. Districts have also reported that virtual learning will compose of online assignments through websites such as Google Classroom, and teachers will use a meeting platform, such as Zoom, to provide live lessons. (See links at the bottom for more information about onsite and online learning).
It is evident that the state and school districts are doing their best to organize education for the 2020-21 school year as safely and efficiently as possible; however, it is understandable that many students, parents, and teachers still have concerns.
I have conducted a survey to find the likelihood of K-12 students attending school in-person vs. online, as well as the reasons behind this decision.
When asked whether they would choose to attend (or, for parents, have their child attend) in-person or through virtual learning, 61.7% of responders reported they would attend in-person, 27% reported they would attend online, 8.5% said they would choose homeschooling instead of public school, and 2.1% remained undecided.
The majority of those who opted for onsite learning stated educational preferences as their primary reason.
“I went from straight A’s to almost a D in math due to virtual learning,” a Benton 11th grader said. The student went on to explain that they require face-to-face instruction with a teacher to fully understand and correct their mistakes. “Virtual learning just confused me, and I didn’t learn.”
The second most common reason was family situations, with many parents and guardians’ work eliminating the option of virtual learning.
“My job hasn’t given an exact date to go back to work,” a Bryant parent of an elementary student explained, “I can’t commit to the full semester for virtual, even though I would prefer to.”
Others have similar situations.
“{My} parents work and can’t be there to help with virtual,” an elementary student from Bauxite said.
They have no other choice but to attend school in-person. Still, they have concerns.
“Dad has cancer, and I’m afraid I’ll bring covid home to him.”
As expected, the overwhelming majority of those who opted to attend school online cited health and safety reasons as the basis for the decision.
Parents of special needs children expressed concerns about getting their children to follow the new strict safety guidelines.
Others are afraid of catching and spreading the virus to family members.
“I don’t wanna risk getting sick or my siblings getting sick, so I would do online school,” a Benton 10th grader declared, “It’s not worth the risk.”
Students and parents who have elected to attend school online still have educational concerns, however some parents have found ways to aid in their children’s virtual learning.
“I worry about the lack of cooperative learning opportunities for virtual learners,” a Bryant parent stated, “I’m creating a learning pod on my street with other middle school and junior high parents to supplement the online curriculum.”
Many uncertainties remain about the upcoming school year, however, Saline County school districts have now released thorough information regarding onsite and online learning. In addition, districts have released FAQs to acknowledge common questions and concerns. See resources below.
Bauxite
- Bauxite Public Schools Revised 2020-21 Calendar
- Bauxite FAQ on Reopening
- Bauxite Plan for Reopening Schools
- Bauxite Public Schools News (latest news can be found here)
- Bauxite Public Schools Facebook Page (most updates posted here)
Benton
- Benton Public Schools 2020-21 Calendar
- Benton Public Schools Informational Links (Updated 7/23)
- Benton Public Schools Facebook Page (most updates posted here)
Bryant
- Bryant Public Schools 2020-21 District Calendar
- New Students: Instruction Options Fall 2020
- Bryant Public Schools Fall Reopening Frequently Asked Questions
- Bryant Public Schools Facebook Page (most updates posted here)
Harmony Grove
- Harmony Grove School District Website (all latest news can be found here)
- HGSD Re-Engagement Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Letter from Superintendent Heath Bennett – Procedures and Protocols
- Family and Community Feedback Form
- Harmony Grove High School Facebook Page (most updates posted here)
Anna Colby is a high school senior. She enjoys consuming ungodly amounts of green tea and banging her head on her desk until a new idea pops into her mind and she can write once again. She also enjoys petting her dog. See a list of all her columns at www.mysaline.com/anna