Is hybrid learning hurting your child? Experts say they need more data to figure out how to help

When virtual school launched in 2020, Tobias Scott knew it wouldn't be ideal for his son, Philip — and when the boy's Grade 1 teacher informed him his child was falling behind in reading, he felt it was up to him and his wife to fix it. 

"It slowly but surely fell apart. We pulled him offline and taught him from home and looked for tutors for him," Scott said.

"Within the school system unfortunately there wasn't much we were able to do."

More than a year and a half into pandemic learning, teachers, researchers and parents like Scott are concerned about the lasting impact closures and disruptions will have on students. The province says it's investing $85 million to help students recover from learning loss, and that public education investments are at "record levels." But some experts say more data is needed to come up with solutions and they worry marginalized groups will be the most affected.

Scott says he's noticed a huge improvement now that his son is back in the classroom — and he believes Philip has caught up — but he says it's likely due to the work they put in as parents.

"Our time spent with him had a greater impact on improving his reading and vocabulary."

Karen Littlewood, president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation, says throughout the pandemic teachers have had to modify the way they teach several times, which has been a huge challenge.

"When you consider nine boards in Ontario are still offering or requiring hybrid learning where teachers are in the classroom with students and some students are remote on the computer, I don't know how you actively or accurately assess their level or provide all the supports they need," she said.

Littlewood believes it will take time to fully understand the effects of hybrid learning, but in the meantime it's been very difficult for teachers to connect with students when they're a "black square on a screen."

"How do you assess how they're feeling, if they need mental health support, what they need academically?" she said.

David Mastin, first vice-president of the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario, calls the hybrid model "a disaster."

"We see the gap widening all the way from kindergarten to Grade 8," he said, adding some of the challenges include students not having their camera on, a lack of engagement and not enough resources for extra help — including for the teachers themselves.

"We've received no support, no training, no professional development on how to deal with those changing environments at all. It's extremely frustrating for all educators."

He worries long-term it will be marginalized, racialized and students from lower income households who will suffer the most.