Virtual Teaching Pros and Cons

When schools closed briefly last year, I couldn't have possibly imagined an entire year online. Now I've been teaching the vast majority of my students virtually for over a year, and it looks like some version of it will be around at least one more year, if not for the foreseeable future. So, take it from me, a virtual education veteran, there's pros and cons to a classroom on the internet. Let's look at a few.

Pro:

Little germ bags (a.k.a. students) are far away from me.

Con:

I can't see their reactions to my hilarious jokes with their cameras off.

Pro:

Virtual learning has forced us to slow down, assign fewer assignments, and accept late work, which gives kids a better chance to succeed.

Con:

Someone has to grade all that late work, and I, tragically, am a someone.

Pro:

"Live" time where we're together in a meet and "non-live" time for solo work build in more work time for students and teachers.

Con:

Work time is easy to replace with "snack time," "nap time," or "I know there's a project due, but I'm all good, thanks" time.

Pro:

My professional dress standards have loosened, and I've never felt freer.

Con:

Kids razz me for bundling up in a blanket while I teach when I KNOW THEY'RE WRAPPED IN A BLANKET AT HOME.

Pro:

Kids who like virtual learning thrive. The schedule’s more flexible, and they can take time for frequent brain breaks.

Con:

It's really hard to support the kids for whom virtual learning just isn't working out.

Pro:

We all got to sleep in a little bit.

Con:

It reminds us how terrible school start times were to begin with.

Pro:

No more easy-to-lose papers.

Con:

A day of school has me feeling like this:

What about you? What are your biggest highs and lows after a year online? Respond with a comment, or message me directly via Ouija board.