The following exercises in Business Spotlight Übungsheft (p. 4) are based on the article “Can e-learning replace classroom learning?” (Head-to-Head, pp. 16-17). Here, we provide you with the transcript.
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Can e-learning replace classroom learning?
YES
“Standardized education doesn’t work for all students”
Technology frees us from the burden of tradition, to make changes to the way we deliver education. Standardized education doesn’t work for all students, especially those on the periphery who learn in a more individualized way. During the pandemic, many schools just gave children lots of homework or went for the “death-by-Zoom” option, but online education has much more to offer than that.
Having taught in both physical and online classrooms, I can say that we always cover more material online. There is constant student interaction through polls, quizzes, the chat and Q&A pods. When students are working through an exam question simultaneously, the teacher can give them individual feedback. You don’t need to wait until they’ve got the answer wrong. You can intervene earlier. You can also see who’s contributing to the lesson at any given moment. There’s less space to hide online than in a physical classroom.
Some students find the social aspect of school overwhelming. Separating their academic education from the physical environment can improve their ability to socialize outside of school and help them to achieve better grades. Online education can also provide continuity of education if a student’s family has to relocate.
If we notice students are disengaged, we can have a conversation with them in a breakout room and, if necessary, schedule supervised study sessions. Self-study is a big part of online education. By teaching students to work independently, manage their time and meet deadlines without constant supervision, we’re giving them valuable life skills.
NO
“Students would miss out on enriching human interaction”
Going to school is not just about subjects, information and ways of thinking. It’s about learning how to behave with others. There are physical aspects of being in a room with other people your age that cannot be replaced by an online platform.
When teaching young children music, I use movement games and songs with choreography. You need to be together in an appropriate space for this. Some music teachers and schools do lessons via Zoom. This works for pupils who already have good technique, but when you start learning an instrument, your body needs to adapt to a lot of unusual postures. Learning how to hold a violin bow or how to position your lips when playing the flute is more effective in person than online.
When it comes to teens, e-learning is a valid option for some extracurricular activities, such as crafts or languages, but definitely not as a replacement for regular school. It’s essential to capture teenagers’ attention and interest, and the device they’re using could easily distract them. If e-learning is used to enhance classroom learning, it needs a well-planned strategy.
I spent three and a half years working at the Rudolf Steiner School in Geneva. Steiner-Waldorf pedagogy is particularly at odds with online learning. In Waldorf schools, teachers delay pupils’ access to devices as long as possible because of their negative effect on concentration. Pupils also engage in many activities that require physical presence, such as gardening, woodworking and eurythmy. Students would miss out on a lot of enriching human interaction if they tried to do those things online.
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