Remote Learning Provides Challenges and Benefits for Teachers

Over the last 11 months, both college and high school instructors have been forced to teach online due to the coronavirus. While remote instructing has caused many challenges, it has also benefited some teachers.

Maplewood High School AP U.S. History, government, economics and AP Human Geography teacher Torrance Banks Sr. has been teaching for Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) for seven years. Since he’s started teaching online, some of Banks’ students have struggled staying committed to their schoolwork.

“The hardest thing is just getting kids to come to class,” Banks said. “And then when they come to class, the next hardest thing to do is to get them to do the work.”

One of the things that Banks has realized at home is how much time is taken away from instruction during a typical in-person school day. Remote teaching does not require for Banks to commute to the school or wait for students to come into his classroom during class changes.

“Just going into the building seems to be a grand time-waster,” Banks said.“Now working from home, I mean, I’m so much more productive.

“It’s been working pretty well. I think I like it a lot better than having to go to the building. Cause I can be a lot more productive working from home.”

Both teachers and students have had to adjust to virtual school. Some students have had to learn how to use technology while teachers have had to learn new ways to instruct students online while keeping them engaged.

“It’s important for the kids to be able to handle working from a computer and all of the technological components that go with working with the computer,” Banks said. “As well as teachers being able to come up with engaging strategies, using technology to keep kids interested.”

Torrence Banks is a Morehouse College senior and journalism student.