 Photo by Carlos Flores on iStock
Although distance education has been around since the late 1800s, when the first very first correspondence course program was introduced by the University of Chicago, it did not become particularly popular until the Internet age began in the 1990s. Today, remote learning is incredibly normalized, in large part due to the fact that all students were forced into the digital classroom by the COVID pandemic lockdowns. While statistics showed that, on average, Michigan students who engaged in remote learning during the pandemic learned less than those who stayed in the classroom, neurodivergent students had a different experience. Four years on, we know a lot more about how students with learning disabilities operate under highly stressful, highly distracting academic environments. Special education staff are taking the knowledge gained from the pandemic to heart, and adapting their lesson plans as a result. Online School and ADHD It would appear as though there are two branches of students with ADHD: those who hated remote learning and those who thrived under it. Some struggled more intensely, distracted by the proximity to their phones and laptops and all the temptations that are associated with them. This group also struggled socially, succumbing to anxiety and depression due to an inability to see their friends. Others adapted phenomenally, finding that doing school from the comfort of their home was actually less distracting than sitting in a classroom full of other students. One of the most common ADD symptoms is hyperfocus: the ability to get a lot done under extreme pressure if the subject matter is interesting or there is a deadline looming. It stands to reason that one cohort of students with ADHD were able to succeed in virtual school. Getting ADHD Students Back into the Classroom While the digital classroom is unlikely to take over traditional schooling for good, it is becoming increasingly popular, along with all other alternatives to public school. Enrollment in both public elementary and secondary schools decreased in 2021, with many parents opting for non-traditional strategies to get their kids back on track. One such alternative? Special education, which provides a robust platform for students with learning disabilities to not only bounce back from the challenges of 2020 but actually thrive in a classroom—many for the first time in their young lives. Schools like ours exist to fulfill an unmet need in public education: quality education for students with special needs, complemented by individualized attention, small class sizes, and a minimum number of distractions. Our staff is highly qualified to help your child reach their full potential as a student, friend, and future productive member of society. Comments are closed.
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