Media Analysis of In-Person vs. Online Schooling During Covid-19 by Katherine Mitchell Smith https://padlet.com/katherine_mitchellsm/ns2ei1ig1zbc0awf A collection of media resources on the 2020 school debate en-us 2020-09-08 21:41:15 UTC 2026-04-10 12:01:56 UTC hello@padlet.com American Academy of Pediatrics Guidelines for In-Person Learning katherine_mitchellsm https://padlet.com/katherine_mitchellsm/ns2ei1ig1zbc0awf/wish/729287778 These guidelines include information for how to do in-person learning as safely as possible in a variety of situations. However, at the top of the web page, there is a warning that it is not safe for in-person schooling in places with high community transmission of Covid-19. In addition, the American Academy of Pediatrics states that districts that have to do online learning will require even more support in order to make sure that schools are meeting students' needs. ]]> 2020-09-08 21:54:26 UTC https://padlet.com/katherine_mitchellsm/ns2ei1ig1zbc0awf/wish/729287778 CDC- The Importance of Reopening America’s Schools this Fall katherine_mitchellsm https://padlet.com/katherine_mitchellsm/ns2ei1ig1zbc0awf/wish/729290912 Although I imagined that the CDC website would be neutral, it is, in fact, pro in-person schooling. This web page cites the low transmission rate for students without talking about the risk for teachers and families. In addition, the web page cites a study from the University of Washington’s Center on Reinventing Public Education stating that in the shift to online learning in the spring, only 1/3 of districts required teachers to provide online instructions. While this might be true, this neglects the fact that teachers and districts were unprepared in the spring whereas many districts prepared over the summer to figure out how to get students access to devices and WiFi hot spots in the event that schools could not reopen in the fall. Throughout this entire web page, online learning is dismissed and risks of in-person schooling are rejected. ]]> 2020-09-08 21:56:25 UTC https://padlet.com/katherine_mitchellsm/ns2ei1ig1zbc0awf/wish/729290912 Healthychildren.org Information on Returning to School katherine_mitchellsm https://padlet.com/katherine_mitchellsm/ns2ei1ig1zbc0awf/wish/729298875 This website lists the AAP as a source for all of their information on how to operate schools as safely as possible. In addition, like the AAP, this web page includes a warning within the first few paragraphs: "The goal of having children attend school in person--which is how they learn best--will only be safe when a community has the spread of the virus under control" ("Return to School," 2020). This balanced website acknowledges that online learning is best for students' learning, but not if it places communities at risk. The web page includes information about in person schooling and states that schools should prepare for how they will support students in online learning if this becomes necessary due to outbreaks. ]]> 2020-09-08 22:02:06 UTC https://padlet.com/katherine_mitchellsm/ns2ei1ig1zbc0awf/wish/729298875 PBS Anchor Interviews Mississippi Doctor katherine_mitchellsm https://padlet.com/katherine_mitchellsm/ns2ei1ig1zbc0awf/wish/729303783 This doctor is recommending fully online schooling because of the high community spread throughout the state. The focus of the interview is unsafe, in-person schools, and there is no discussion of the risks or the logistical nightmare of doing online learning and trying to meet students' needs. This one-sided dialogue makes this an unbalanced media source. ]]> 2020-09-08 22:05:44 UTC https://padlet.com/katherine_mitchellsm/ns2ei1ig1zbc0awf/wish/729303783 Fox News Interview of Parents Suing California Governor over Online Schooling katherine_mitchellsm https://padlet.com/katherine_mitchellsm/ns2ei1ig1zbc0awf/wish/729318617 While covering a story does not make a news outlet lean one way or another, the way in which this anchor interviews the parents demonstrates that she sides with them in this matter. The anchor asks one of the parents if he thinks that the school closures are political, and he responds by saying that fear is more contagious than Covid-19. The anchor nods along, and her tone of voice clearly indicates that she agrees with the people being interviewed. She wishes them well with the lawsuit at the end of the interview. ]]> 2020-09-08 22:16:00 UTC https://padlet.com/katherine_mitchellsm/ns2ei1ig1zbc0awf/wish/729318617 Local Kentucky News Anchor Interviews Mom with Son on the Spectrum katherine_mitchellsm https://padlet.com/katherine_mitchellsm/ns2ei1ig1zbc0awf/wish/729323770 This news anchor is interviewing someone who wants in-person schools because her son requires special services that cannot be administered at home. Throughout the interview, the anchor remains neutral, but no other sides or information is provided. After interviewing the mother who has personal reasons for wanting in-person schooling, the anchor cuts to the next story in the program. Offering only one perspective means that this is not a neutral or balanced news source. ]]> 2020-09-08 22:19:56 UTC https://padlet.com/katherine_mitchellsm/ns2ei1ig1zbc0awf/wish/729323770 Ask Dr. B: Jill Biden's Covid-19 Conversations katherine_mitchellsm https://padlet.com/katherine_mitchellsm/ns2ei1ig1zbc0awf/wish/729328197 Jill Biden is an experienced teacher with a doctorate in education, and she is hosting a series of conversations to answer questions about both in-person and online learning. While this is an inherently political image with Joe Biden's campaign logo on the bottom, it is balanced on the topic of in-person vs. online learning. ]]> 2020-09-08 22:23:18 UTC https://padlet.com/katherine_mitchellsm/ns2ei1ig1zbc0awf/wish/729328197 Tweet from Ontario Dad katherine_mitchellsm https://padlet.com/katherine_mitchellsm/ns2ei1ig1zbc0awf/wish/729337529 This Twitter user has 11.4K followers and says in his bio that he is a proud supporter of educators. However, his tweet expresses a conspiracy theory that the emergency shift to online learning is a plot to cut funding to education. This tweet ignores research and many teachers' concerns in favor of spreading an unfounded conspiracy theory. ]]> 2020-09-08 22:30:31 UTC https://padlet.com/katherine_mitchellsm/ns2ei1ig1zbc0awf/wish/729337529 Tweet from Zohran Kwame Mamdani katherine_mitchellsm https://padlet.com/katherine_mitchellsm/ns2ei1ig1zbc0awf/wish/729343123 This tweet is by Zohran Kwame Mamdani, Democratic Nominee for AD 36. He is in favor of the NY teacher strike, in which teachers are protesting unsafe, in-person schools. He focuses on the unsafe conditions for teachers without acknowledging the students and parents who prefer in-person learning. ]]> 2020-09-08 22:34:23 UTC https://padlet.com/katherine_mitchellsm/ns2ei1ig1zbc0awf/wish/729343123 Research Article: Online Learning amid the COVID-19 Pandemic: Students' Perspectives katherine_mitchellsm https://padlet.com/katherine_mitchellsm/ns2ei1ig1zbc0awf/wish/729538168 This is a study on students' perceptions of online learning in Pakistan. The researchers are trying to answer their research questions, which are as follows:
(1) To know the effectiveness of online learning in Pakistan from higher education students' perspectives.
(2) To highlight the challenges and obstacles of online learning faced by higher education students in Pakistan. (Adnan & Anwar, 2020, p. 47).  
Because the goal is to gather data and to answer research questions, the researchers are not leaning one way or another. They want information, not responses that align with their perspectives. 
]]> 2020-09-09 00:41:29 UTC https://padlet.com/katherine_mitchellsm/ns2ei1ig1zbc0awf/wish/729538168 Opinion Article in the Atlantic katherine_mitchellsm https://padlet.com/katherine_mitchellsm/ns2ei1ig1zbc0awf/wish/729554670 This is an opinion article written by two New York teachers about the difficult position that teachers are in. There are pay cuts that teachers will face if they strike, but the authors argue that their lives are at risk if they fall in line with in-person schooling. They point out that New York's mayor has promised that schools are safe, but teachers have not seen evidence of the renovations, extra staff, PPE, and cleaning supplies that would be necessary to make schools safe for students and staff. The authors do talk briefly about a possibility of in-person learning being done safely as well as the benefits of in-person learning, but these are mainly used as counterclaims that are quickly rebutted in the argument. ]]> 2020-09-09 00:48:56 UTC https://padlet.com/katherine_mitchellsm/ns2ei1ig1zbc0awf/wish/729554670 Ed Reform Now Blog Post katherine_mitchellsm https://padlet.com/katherine_mitchellsm/ns2ei1ig1zbc0awf/wish/729571764 This blog post on on Ed Reform Now accepts that online learning is the safest option right now and notes that it has been mandated or recommended in all U.S. States. The blog posts provides a list of resources by state so that teachers can stay informed about online learning. There is no information about in-person learning. ]]> 2020-09-09 00:56:45 UTC https://padlet.com/katherine_mitchellsm/ns2ei1ig1zbc0awf/wish/729571764