People have proven this adage to be true again and again in response to COVID-19 needs. Distilleries and perfumeries have retooled to make hand sanitizer. Students have used 3D-printers to create face shields. Individuals and clothing manufacturers have produced facemasks, gowns, and scrubs. Dyson and NASA have designed new ventilators.
Perhaps the most remarkable demonstration of ingenuity is how teachers, students, and parents have transitioned from brick-and-mortar schools to remote learning. The transition has not been—and is not—easy. There are inequities in access to the Internet and personal computing devices. Different homelife situations also present challenges. Some students have adults at home who are available to answer their questions and help them stay on task, while others have limited support.
New Timelines, New Concerns
Now, as we approach two months of stay-at-home measures, most states have decided to keep schools closed for the remainder of the 2019–2020 academic year. New timelines bring new concerns as teachers, administrators, states, and publishers address these questions:
- How do we transition from remote review and enrichment to remotely teaching new content?
- Should we provide students with learning opportunities through the summer months?
- Will schools reopen in the fall? If so, how do schools and buses maintain social distancing to ensure the safety and well being of staff and students?
- Will schools employ face-to-face learning in tandem with remote learning to reduce in-school occupancy? How will students adapt to this new model of learning?
- What print content can translate to digital content and vice versa?
- How can we better support parents or guardians tasked with guiding their children’s at-home education?
Jump Start Press is keeping these questions in mind as we work with our clients to develop educational products for the 2020–2021 school year and beyond. Though circumstances have changed, our focus remains on helping teachers and students make the most of learning—together or apart.
We’d love to hear from you! How are your local school districts planning to transition to in-person learning? What obstacles and opportunities lie ahead?
Jump Start Press Blog 