Online Learning VS Emergency Remote Learning

We have been operating in an online or virtual environment for twenty years now. So we as an organization understand what it means to be an “online learning environment”. Traditional schools have had to make an extremely big shift to what is often referred to as online learning, distance learning, or virtual learning. When in reality what parents and teachers are now involuntarily experiencing is more like emergency remote learning. 

The trouble with labeling this shift as “distance learning” or the like is that we are not accounting for the fact that no one was prepared for this, and many don’t have the knowledge or tools to go about this new learning style in an efficient or comfortable way. 

As it stands, there is much uncertainty about what public education will look like in the Fall. We are still in the middle of a global pandemic that could impact students going back to face-to-face education. We want teachers, parents, and students to have the tools they need to make sound decisions and to be able to adjust to emergency remote learning as it stands now. 

Online learning at BlueSky and other online educational organizations has existed for years. There are differences between what schools are experiencing now and how we’ve been operating online learning. Keep reading for the differences between emergency distance learning and online learning. 

Support for Students and Families 

Online schools like BlueSky have learned how to support students virtually through years of experience. For our team here at Bluesky, we’ve had 20 years of experience to teach us how to provide unparalleled support to our families. This means being in consistent communication with both students and their parents or guardians to make sure they’re on track and having a positive experience. 

Learning in a remote environment can be tough! We know the challenges that come with remote learning all too well and we’ve structured our organization in a way that meets those challenges and overcomes them. Students are unique in their learning styles, so we provide them with individualized support to help them to learn in a way that suits them best. 

Full-Time (Real) Staff 

Our staff is made up of full-time and fully trained and certified educators. This means that even when virtual classes are over, students and parents have the opportunity to connect with staff one-on-one. The support doesn’t end when the virtual bell rings. We pride ourselves on having an incredible team of educators in each and every role. All of whom are dedicated to providing our families with the support they need to be successful at BlueSky. 

For many of our families, this gives them peace of mind that they are working with real, professional teachers! There is a real person teaching your students’ class and they are happy to communicate with you! 

Effective Technology Systems 

Something that came with years of online experience was the technologies we have in place to provide families with structured and organized learning experiences. We’ve used the last 20 years to discover what technologies it takes to be effective in a virtual environment. Our portal keeps students, families, and educators connected and aware of upcoming tasks. Beyond the one-on-one support that our staff provides, we have the technology to keep students up-to-date on classes and assignments. This helps immensely with students’ ability to stay organized and ahead of their assignments. 

In the current environment, it’s difficult to know what’s to come in terms of schooling and beyond! We hope that we can be a tool to help all educators and families in this strange time.  For more information on BlueSky or to speak to a staff member, contact us here!