How can I meet the needs of my learners when I go back?

As we enter the next chapter of the unknown, for many the  last week or so has kick started further planning but also creates room for some reflection. For me, it definitely has, but what does it mean for our learners? During the last few weeks I’ve spoken on the E&M Booth (new podcast!) and at #APnorth about what we need, but as we get closer I find more things ha to consider.

Time, Flexibility & Understanding 

I think it is important for our learners not to jump back into how things were prior to lockdown. Learners need time. We need time to talk and acknowledge what we have all just been through. We talk a lot about adapting planning to meet the needs of our learners but will their needs, need to be reassessed to some extent? 

Some may need time to talk, others may need time to catch up, some may need time to feel comfortable being back in the classroom with other people after weeks of feeling safe at home. Everything we do to make our learning spaces feel welcoming and safe, this really is the time to make that happen. Like I mentioned in E&M booth, I really don’t think running back in to sit exams in the first weeks back is a good idea. Whilst I appreciate the importance of evidence gathering and skills building, we cannot just throw exam style materials at them or mock exams. That’s demotivating. Especially, when we know each of our learners may not perform to the best of their ability that day and for some not being fully engaged with online learning.

Language 

Watch your language! - something we’re all having to do as to not give any indication about grades, but being more conscious about the words we use around our learners can have an impact. 

We’re aware of the unconscious bias learners join us with. As me and Sammy White (@Whatthetrig) were saying in the E&M booth podcast, learners believe because they have heard of someone else without English or maths and they’re a hot shot lawyer or a builder with their own business, they do not need the skills. Of course life happens and people can make it, but we need learners to understand the process of skills building and we apart of that journey to getting them where they want to be. A collective approach is key with how we are speaking to our learners - none of the negative language ‘oh I didn’t need maths either’ - We need vocational tutors, receptions and even English & maths tutors to be onboard with this. 

‘When we get back to normal...’ - what is normal anymore? Stop saying ‘normal’. We’re living, teaching and learning in what we thought was a blip in the matrix. Right now ‘normal’ is teaching online or with a blended approach and TAGs, we don’t know when things will go back to how they were before and we have to help our learners live & thrive in the now - this also in support of rebuilding their growth mindset. 

What has this taught me? - thinking to the future

Honesty - We need more conversations with learners. For my subject area, we do not typically hold 1to1s with our learners as regularly as the vocational tutors do. Mainly because we see them for less hours and there is no allocated tutorial slot for that. However we need to make the time to do so. In order for learners to progress, we must be honest about the starting point and acknowledge that the starting point may have been pushed a little further back, but that’s ok, because we’re going to work from here to the next rung on the ladder. 

The learner journey - It has been challenging & exhausting journey but, overall It has been a positive experience for me. I have enjoyed watching some of my learners flourish in the online environment. We must acknowledge that for some, the online community built has enabled them to become more confident, especially for our more anxious learners. The online element has also taken away that barrier of physically stepping into the classroom which some find challenging. 

Do I/ we hold the magic tools to make this easy? Maybe. What is important is that we as educators also take time too. Remember this week,  ‘you cannot pour from an empty cup’