Chris Vallée previews the new documentary Is it Time for Online?

By Christopher Vallée

Since March of last year when COVID-19 was declared a pandemic in Canada, the way we are educated has been transformed. Online learning was introduced as a temporary fix to keep students educated. The real question is, will online learning be here to stay? Is it time for online education? What are the benefits and what are the drawbacks? Our latest documentary, Is it Time for Online? will help answer those questions. We spoke to a variety of people, from educators to students and parents and received many different viewpoints on the new online model that’s been utilized by many school boards in Canada. 

While some see the benefits to online education, it is hard to ignore the hardships. Students, educators and parents were all thrown into this situation last year with little to no time to prepare. Educators express that because of this, students at the elementary and secondary school levels are only consuming about 60-65 per cent of the curriculum. While schools have tried their hardest to adapt to online, some learning elements cannot be done virtually. 

There was one clear message mentioned by every single interviewee: education should be individualized from person to person. What works for someone doesn’t always work for another. We all learn differently, and this pandemic has forced schools to think outside of the box and explore their options. 

A lot of uncertainty lies ahead, there are no clear answers on whether this new way of learning will stick around in a post-pandemic world. One thing we know for certain is that the Government of Ontario is considering it. As for students and parents, well, many are open to the idea of permanency, but believe that in order for it to work, improvements must be made and the flaws dealt with.

Learn how students, families and educators are adapting to online learning and what impact this sudden switch has had on their daily lives by watching Is It Time for Online? on Friday, May 28, at 8 p.m. Eastern on AMI-tv. Stream it post-broadcast anytime right here on AMI.ca or the AMI-tv App.

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