I’ve always been fascinated as to how calamities, such as war, lead to innovations that benefit humankind long after the conflict abates. WWII, for example, sponsored all of the following:

• Antibiotics
• Radar
• Jet Aircraft
• Computers
• Satellites

The old adage Necessity is the mother of invention could be applied to each of these quantum technological leaps. In each case, one side in the conflict was attempting to develop advantages that would lay waste to their enemy. The unintended consequence, however, was that these inventions vastly improved civilian existence after the conflict. I could not fathom my life without any of these WWII byproducts. This realization got me thinking. I wonder if the catastrophe of COVID will spawn better ways to educate kids. 

To help explore this rhetorical question, I tapped a former guest, Ryan Mocarski. 5 years ago, on Episode 31, Ryan promoted the idea of self-directed learning. In this episode, we’ll speculate about transitioning out of COVID.

Episode Template

The Problem:

Teachers struggled when they were forced to become virtual educators during COVID–and now that it’s winding down, they’re struggling making the transition back to more traditional teaching. 

The Solution:

COVID has changed education. Embrace this and be willing to change as well. 

What you can do Tomorrow:

• Take an inventory of how you’ve taught differently over the last 12 months.
• What strategies have worked and what have not?
• What have you liked about teaching this way?
• What strategies or tactics that you utilized during COVID could you perhaps utilize in more traditional leaning settings? 
• Collaborate with colleagues about these questions.
• Be open to new ideas that your administrators propose. 

My old high school Biology teacher had a saying, Species can either migrate, mutate, or lay down and die. In order to thrive you must be willing to mutate. 

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