Buffalo, NY (WBEN) It has been nearly a year since many students have been in a classroom. And as some of them are preparing to head to college, there's a concern as to whether there's a damaging learning gap as a result of not being in the classroom.
With students learning remotely, Dr. Wendy Patterson of SUNY Buffalo State says students are learning differently.
"We have students who are online synchronous, online asynchronous, with teachers, not with teachers, so the learning environment is all over the place," says Patterson. She says the first step is assessment. "If we find out where they are, we can take them to where they need to be," notes Patterson.
Patterson says there have been a lot of things they've picked up in a direction that may be different than if they were funneled in one direction in the same classroom. "Independent learners do a really good job in an environment where they pursue their own curiosity. Students who need a little more guidance may have gotten lost, may not have equally been served. Our students are as individualistic as we are, and even as adults we're challenged by a flat, two dimensional environment," explains Patterson.
Patterson says there's one conclusion from this environment. "The reality is they're going to return to school and they're not going to be on the same page," says Patterson. "So, we need to find out what page they're on, and from that point, the skills out teachers possess will take them from where they are to where they need to be." She says it will be just a bit more challenging this coming year.
At SUNY Buffalo State, Patterson says there's been a huge emphasis on transition in recent years.
"What we have are bridge programs, where we work with faculty to support students on their skill sets, such as writing, study strategies, and we also have supplemental instruction freshman year," says Patterson. She says students who have succeeded in those courses serve as supplemental instructors. There's also a new grant, Title III, which is focused on retention and graduation of students from underserved populations. Patterson says completion coaches meet with their students from the front door to graduation.
There are also learning communities with smaller classes and integrated instruction with two or three different instructors work together to help students meet the requirements of all classes, adds Patterson. There's also a Starfish program, that indicate whether there's concern over a student's progress. "There's a committee that handles that, so we watch carefully and assess along the way, and if there's any way to help them move forward, we will do it," says Patterson.
Patterson doesn't anticipate a big difference in incoming freshmen this year compared to previous years. She says the college is consistent in drawing its population.
