Roger Sinnett, Headteacher of St Bees School in Cumbria, contributed to the Tes.com website with an article on how he has seen his students develop over the recent weeks. Interestingly, Mr Sinnett identifies the importance of emotional intelligence, and argues that online learning has given students a great opportunity to develop in this respect. Emotional intelligence is essentially the ability to communicate, interact with others, and manage general tasks, and a child's school years are vital to this type of development.
In this article, Mr Sinnett breaks down the main five ways in which online learning helps to boost emotional intelligence:
1. Teamwork
During online sessions, students have to maintain patience and wait for their turn to speak in order to allow for productive sessions.
2. Leadership Skills and Self Management
Online learning demands a higher level of self-management in terms of attendance, required resources and motivation.
3. Confidence and Resilience
Students have quickly needed to adapt to new technologies and take on new challenges that they may not have faced within the classroom, allowing them to help themselves through times of 'I just can't do this'.
4. Independence and Personal Organisation
Having to develop, contribute and engage with work whilst not inside the classroom has meant that students rely on their own personal organisation and ability to work independently.
5. Research Skills
Students are able and required to spend time engaging with their own curiosity and researching topics for themselves at home.
Overall, Roger Sinnett explains that students have risen to the challenge set in front of them and that student surveys have proven positive during this time.
'Student surveys show that they value the independence of working at their own speed. They also appreciate making their own decisions about how they organise and approach their learning.'