Creative Development and E-Learning: Best Friends or Butting Heads?

It's easy to see how e-learning can be facilitative to a cut-and-dry study subject such as math or science. With an e-learning program, the material can be archived for later reference and re-visited whenever necessary; any and all necessary learning tools are at the learner's fingertips; the program can tell the student whether an answer is right or wrong. But when it comes to schooling on a more creative subject, like writing or design, do e-learning systems have any place in the classroom?

Learning Speed

Consider this: in a standard schooling environment, students have to keep up with (or be held back by) the pace of the instructor. It's un-productive for one student to ask for more time when he or she is the only person in the room who needs it; on the flip-side, why attend class on a project you've already finished? The one good thing about e-learning is that it allows students the opportunity to learn at their own pace. By now we know that learning speeds vary from student to student, and e-learning lets students fully absorb a subject before moving on.

Learning Style

Just like every student learns at a different pace, there are different methods of teaching that work for some students that won't work for others. Learning style is particularly important when it comes to fostering creativity. A student simply can't unleash his or her creative abilities if they're not partaking in an intuitive process. E-learning systems allow students to take advantage of the types of lessons and resources that work for them while doing minimal work on the types of projects that don't facilitate their success.

Learning Environment

Learning in a classroom isn't for everybody. Working in front of a room of people sometimes creates a sense of pressure or inability to perform. And, for some, the class period just isn't long enough. Interactive e-learning systems let students take advantage of lessons and resources from their mobile devices, so no matter where they may be, they can re-visit the material and practice. This lets them get into an environment that relaxes them, whether that's inside the classroom or out.

No Limits

One thing that really restricts the mind's creativity is limitations. When using e-learning tools, a student doesn't have to be finished exploring a subject that really speaks to them just because a chapter is over. Having the lessons on their mobile devices allows them to dive as deeply into content as they please, which is crucial for helping them figure out their niche creative capabilities.

E-learning isn't just for cold, hard facts. The unlimited access to resources, environments, other students' input, and projects creates a "no-limits" type of environment that cultivates the creative mind instead of cutting it off.

Teachers' Greatest Resource Found Outside the Classroom

Teachers might say that their best resource for teaching their students is YouTube, or a science app on their cell phone, or a site that hosts study guides. In the technological age, everything we need to get a point across is right at our fingertips, and educators are really getting creative with ways to use these resources. That being said, a teacher's best friend is still one that can't be reached on the computer.

It's the parents of the students.

If you truly care for the success of your students, getting the parents involved is paramount. That being said, it's not always the easiest task. Visiting students' homes is time-consuming and, not to mention, doesn't always go over well. Sometimes parents are difficult to contact. At the end of the day, those aren't reasons for not keeping parents in the loop – you just have to find new ways to do it.

Begin a Weekly Newsletter

It's pretty simple: get a list of parents' e-mails and create a newsletter that outlines the important goings-on of your class. Detail where students should be in the research/writing process for their term papers, and offer a few helpful hints for the parents. Give shout-outs to students who made noteworthy accomplishments or summarize important conversations had in class. It's a simple but effective way to encourage parents to come to you with questions and to hold their students accountable.

Enlist Parent Helpers

If you're an educator, you know quite well that parents will be vocal about what they'd like to see in the classroom. By enlisting parent helpers to choose what to post on bulletin boards, organize field trips, or suggest films or texts, you're allowing the parents to feel as though they have some sort of control over their child's education which will facilitate a strong parent-teacher relationship.

Use Parent-Friendly Software

Classroom management software is an innovation that's quickly taking over, largely due to the fact that it benefits everyone. Educators can post due dates and status updates in order to remind students about assignments, so students can't "forget" about projects. Parents can check students' grades and see that their child has submitted work, making discipline and communication easier. And, as the teacher, organizing lesson plans, keeping attendance, and uploading resources makes a huge difference.

Dealing with Disengaged Parents

It may sound like all of the above is idealizing all parents – in truth, not all parents are involved. The aforementioned software helps to pinpoint which students are struggling and in what areas so that you can easily take them aside and talk to them about it. Additionally, if parents don't seem to have the time to sit down with their students, you could dedicate a few hours to tutoring or point parents and students in the direction of the school's tutoring center to help improve work ethic. It's important that someone gives struggling students personal attention, so when a parent is disengaged, it's all about finding another way to do that.