If you could customize education, what would it look like?

Given the current state, many have taken education into their homes.  Not by choice but because of the health of our society.  Homeschooling used to be an option that only a few chose for their children because of philosophy, different learning styles, health challenges and a variety of other reasons.  But now, homeschooling is currently the norm. 

Like everything else, there are upsides and downsides.  Many are finding that their children are learning more and can benefit from a variety of methods to teach concepts.  Others are at a loss because their children are not able to receive specialized services that are critical to their progress.  There are also the social implications of learning from home.  Our kids are not able to be with their peers.  They are not developing and practicing the social skills that they need to build on for the future. And let's face it, many of our kids are just plain lonely without being able to interact with their classmates. 

As a parent that considered homeschooling my kids, I took into account their individual learning needs.  I felt that the schools were not paying close enough attention to that.  I felt strongly that the school was trying to fit them into a particular mold of what it was to be a typical student.  Neither one of my kids is a typical student. I am guessing that many parents feel the same way. Even as an educator I felt that I was not able to meet each students’ individual needs well enough with the time and resources I had.  

But, what if schools looked at each child independently and holistically?  I’ve often thought that ALL children need an Individual Education Plan. Of course all students need a basic foundational curriculum but alongside let’s look at each child’s strengths, talents and interests.  These will develop and change over time and we can use those pieces to help students build the skills they need to use those strengths, talents and interests for future employment and hobbies that will serve them for a lifetime.  

Take a moment to reflect on what you would have wanted your customized education to look like when you were back in grade school.  Would that have changed the work that you are doing now?  Would you have enjoyed your learning experience more that you did?  Would you feel more connected to others that had similar interests and understood your needs?  Imagine the impact.  Perhaps we would have more people who enjoy the work they are doing who feel less anxious and less isolated.  

As we look forward to a new school year and what a “new normal” may look like, perhaps we need to look beyond the rules of social distancing and also look at how we can provide a more student centered educational environment.