Students in Surrey are adjusting to a new normal this week with the district implementing a new hybrid learning program. It’s a pilot project for high school students, designed to help them prepare for hybrid work in the future. Students are able to opt into the program if they wish and take a course 50-per-cent online. Jill Lobley’s Grade 10 son has decided to opt into the hybrid program for his careers course. “During COVID, he was online quite a bit and actually excelled, being able to work on his own and go at his own pace,” says Lobley. Lobley said some kids would thrive in online learning, while others may need the extra support in the classroom. “Parents have been asking for more options,” she says. “There are definitely kids that this will not work for but there are kids and covid taught us that that can do this.” She says the school also sent a letter Friday to parents who inquired about access to devices. The school is offering to loan out devices like laptops and iPads if a student does not have their own, or to provide access to the school computer lab. Mark Pearmain, Superintendent of the Surrey School District, says he hopes the program helps students prepare for hybrid courses in university or a job. “We’re looking at this as the opportunity to provide these opportunities for our kids to learn new skills and new competencies.” Surrey has been up against many challenges: overcrowding, hundreds of portable classrooms and a lack of resources. Pearmain says the pilot project won’t help address those issues yet. “Its only one or two classes per school that we’re trying this in,” he says. “So it’s really going to have a minimal impact this year when it comes to any of our space challenges. It may in the future, if it expands.” ‘It’s already hard to focus’ Dr. Shimi Kang, a child psychiatrist with Future Ready Minds, says screen time can be problematic for teenagers, especially when it comes to learning. “It’s already hard to focus,” explains Dr. Kang. “Especially on academic subjects, particularly if there is neurodiversity or attention deficit or some other learning problems there. And so that could really impact them.” Dr. Kang echoed Lobley’s points, stating that the program may be beneficial for some kids, while others may struggle. “Digital literacy, learning how to manage and that hybrid environment could provide benefits,” Kang says. “So I think it’s going to be an individual experience.” Dr. Kang said it’s also important to note that teenagers cannot be expected to learn or work the same way as adults do. “There are some differences in the teenage brain versus the adult brain,” explains Kang. “That brain doesn’t really fully have its maturation until early 20s. So when we think of younger people on a hybrid environment, some of the difficulties they may run into (include) distraction.” Dr. Kang says it is important for parents to take the responsibility of ensuring their teenagers are getting enough time off the screen. “We are losing those micro moments of social connection and loneliness is on the rise along with other mental health issues, including social anxiety,” Kang says. “So I would suggest the priority, in all cases, being upping the socialization.”
