Many education providers today have a growing concern about learning loss due to COVID.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at learning loss to gain a better understanding of what it is, the debates surrounding it, what states are doing to address the issue, and how to address it moving forward.
What Is Learning Loss?
Any knowledge or skill loss is commonly referred to as learning loss. Learning loss typically refers to a reversal in academic progress that stems from discontinuities or extended gaps in a student’s education.
There are several different ways learning loss manifests, but some of the most recognizable sources arise from situations that may include:
Course scheduling
Lower-quality teaching
School absences
Senior year of high school
Returning dropouts
Summer break
Interrupted formal education
Should We Be Using the Term Learning Loss?
In referring to COVID and its impact on the education sector, many organizations are opting to avoid using the terminology learning loss. According to the national service program City Year, learning loss not only assumes that students neglected to learn new materials since the nationwide shutdown in March of 2020 but also that no prior information has been retained.
Instead of calling this a “learning loss,” City Year challenges those involved in the education industry to consider it a learning interruption. While the look and feel of learning undoubtedly changed for the masses, it doesn’t negate the fact that students were still learning in these new environments.
In addition to coursework materials, City Year also argues that students went on to learn and perfect other skills they may not have been introduced to in the traditional learning environment. Some of these skills include:
Creativity
Resilience
Flexibility
For the sake of this article and brevity, we will continue referring to this interrupted learning schedule as learning loss. But organizations such as City Year help us adjust our focus and appreciate how far the education space has come over the last few years.
What Are the Debates Surrounding Learning Loss?
Nationwide, officials are quick to make criticisms about the learning loss debate. Unfortunately, many of these jabs neglect to recognize the struggles faced by teachers and parents of students impacted by COVID school closures.
Teachers of Learning Loss
Not only have educators been forced to transform their teaching styles to online or hybrid methods, but they have also been the target of blame for significant learning loss. It comes without surprise that disgruntled teachers could be found across the nation. These frustrations manifested in various ways, including:
Union strikes (building conditions, decreased class sizes, increased pay, etc.)
Demands for multilingual services for students
Accelerated rates of resignations
Parents of Learning Loss
Much of the debate about bringing children back to the classroom setting as the world adjusted to the new reality following the COVID closures could be broken down by demographic and staggering studies.
According to a study by the Pew Research Center titled “A Year of U.S. Public Opinion on the Coronavirus Pandemic,” 57% of Black American adults knew someone hospitalized or who had died due to COVID, in comparison to 34% of white American adults.
Not surprisingly, white American adults were the most adamant about getting their children back in the classroom. Parents of minority students were not quite as keen on the idea of returning their children to overcrowded classrooms that undoubtedly lacked the necessary protective equipment.
What Are States Doing to Address Learning Loss
Often referred to as the nation’s report card, the latest NAEP showed tanking math and reading scores. As to be expected, this learning loss is wholly credited to COVID and the mandatory nationwide school closures that began in March 2020.
It is up to states to determine what their next move will be to combat this learning loss. Here is a look at what some of the states have already declared.
Alabama
Alabama is notorious for finding itself at the very bottom of the list in terms of learning loss, leaving COVID out of the picture. These days, it’s finding itself ranked higher than average.
Sadly, this isn’t necessarily something worth bragging about. While it may be good news for Alabama, it’s not great news for the state of the rest of the country.
California
While California has not yet made mention of its efforts to combat learning loss moving forward, Governor Gavin Newsom has made mention of the latest NAEP results.
According to the report card, California shows the lowest math scores decline of any other state in the nation. Governor Newsom believes these results, while not ideal, can still be argued to be better than others due to the $23.8 billion in education funds that boosted efforts to tackle potential learning loss head-on.
Even though California students still showed a decline in test scores, it’s worth noting that perhaps there is some rhyme behind the reason for Governor Newsom and the education funding.
How to Address Learning Loss
Not surprisingly, state officials are scrambling to figure out how to address learning loss. Here are three proven strategies that can help educators combat the aftermath of learning loss in students.
1. Focus on Preventing Dropout
After extensive school disruption, like that seen during COVID, it’s crucial for organizations to come together to focus on preventing dropouts. Helpful reports to conduct are finding out which students did not enroll in online learning as well as those who never completed coursework.
2. Complete Any Unfinished Learning
On the topic of uncompleted coursework, finding out this information helps educators identify the learning gap. Determine what prevented students from completing their work and find options that help promote them towards getting it done. After all, better late than never.
3. Leverage Tech
Lastly, here at ryco.io, you’ll hear it time and time again, but tech is the future of education. Even if kids are returning to the classroom, there’s no need for them to leave their days of tech integration behind. It’s time to look into leveraging tech for learning in person, in addition to virtually. The best part is there are countless eLearning tools available for education today.
Wrap Up
Here at ryco.io, our priority is finding effective ways to educate. While the country endures ongoing learning loss, the time is now for educators and facilitators to make moves. It’s time to navigate learning loss and identify a plan to combat it head-on.
Comments