One could agree that during the months of virtual teaching many students and teachers had to learn the ins and outs of virtual education. Online learning became the main source of teaching and learning for about a year, and in some places, it is still the only learning format in use. However, after the first year of online learning, there are mixed feelings about teaching and learning in the virtual world. As a foreign language teacher, I could say my experience was within the expectations. There were students who enjoyed learning through zoom while other students had more challenging experiences trying to adapt to the online environment. Teachers and students even found themselves in hilarious situations when students just showed part of their faces, or appear on the screen like just got up from the bed. One time I was waiting on my online students to log in for several minutes when I realized I had the wrong link for the class and everyone else was waiting for me at another site.
As a music teacher, I had a completely different experience. It was very challenging to attempt to run a music program online. Many colleagues were looking for ways to bring to students the same experiences from the physical classroom. But the challenges were huge and while there were some positive experiences as colleagues discovered new tools to deliver content and even create "virtual choirs," many music educators could conclude that nothing can replace reality.
One of the great lessons I learned from teaching behind a computer screen is that nothing can beat reality. Talking face-to-face, hearing in real-time the voices of my students, answering questions, even addressing the disruptions, and much more made me realize the value of "being real." The social aspect, the interactions, the laughs, the questions, the answers, the comments, all in real life is has not equal. Many could agree with me that at the end of the day, it is good to be in the classroom with the students and teachers. The classroom is like a mini-society, with different types of personalities, minds, finding answers together, solving problems together, making music together, and having fun together. It is a reality that is hard or impossible to change. The reality of virtuality is that we need each other as human beings. We need to hear each other, see each other, and cooperate with each other in the real world. While virtual reality gets to be close to real life in terms of emotions and feelings, it will never replace the fact of being physically present. One of the big lessons I learned during the pandemic is that "nothing can replace the real you."
As a music teacher, I had a completely different experience. It was very challenging to attempt to run a music program online. Many colleagues were looking for ways to bring to students the same experiences from the physical classroom. But the challenges were huge and while there were some positive experiences as colleagues discovered new tools to deliver content and even create "virtual choirs," many music educators could conclude that nothing can replace reality.
One of the great lessons I learned from teaching behind a computer screen is that nothing can beat reality. Talking face-to-face, hearing in real-time the voices of my students, answering questions, even addressing the disruptions, and much more made me realize the value of "being real." The social aspect, the interactions, the laughs, the questions, the answers, the comments, all in real life is has not equal. Many could agree with me that at the end of the day, it is good to be in the classroom with the students and teachers. The classroom is like a mini-society, with different types of personalities, minds, finding answers together, solving problems together, making music together, and having fun together. It is a reality that is hard or impossible to change. The reality of virtuality is that we need each other as human beings. We need to hear each other, see each other, and cooperate with each other in the real world. While virtual reality gets to be close to real life in terms of emotions and feelings, it will never replace the fact of being physically present. One of the big lessons I learned during the pandemic is that "nothing can replace the real you."