By Tamara Fyke
For many families in the South, the new school year has already begun. As counties weigh options and many choose virtual learning, the rise in coronavirus cases continues to influence decisions. From conversations with students, parents, and educators, it’s clear that learning safely from home has been more challenging than anyone expected. Home Wi‑Fi often cannot handle large numbers of simultaneous users. Students lose Zoom links. Some educational platforms are not intuitive for younger learners. And yet, this moment offers an invitation to rethink how we approach schooling.
What if we treated this new model of learning as an experiment? Instead of pressing for perfection, we could view this period as a collective learning process. By applying the Scientific Method to our current educational challenges and linking each step to Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), we can create a more thoughtful, resilient response.
Step 1 – Ask a Question: How can we transition students to online learning?
Educators have wrestled with this question for months, considering safety, access, and instructional quality. There is no one-size-fits-all solution; districts and schools must adapt to their unique communities. Yet asking this question has surfaced broader conversations about equity, access, and the purpose of education. In many cases, these discussions have sparked innovation and deeper collaboration across the education community.
SEL Tip for Students: Solving big problems begins with asking meaningful questions. Stay curious and approach challenges with humility—neither underestimating nor overestimating yourself.
Step 2 – Do Background Research: In-person, blended, or fully virtual learning?
Schools and districts have studied the best practices for in-person, blended, and virtual instruction, keeping pandemic safety protocols in mind. Most have developed flexible plans that can shift as public health conditions change. This research has, for many educators, re-centered attention on student needs and community well-being. The crisis has, in some ways, renewed commitment to children and the communities that support them.
SEL Tip for Students: Recognize that you don’t know everything. Be willing to learn new tools and routines, but stay grounded in your purpose—what motivates and guides you.
Step 3 – Construct a Hypothesis: We can educate students safely and effectively during a pandemic.
A hypothesis is an idea that can be tested. Rather than pausing the school year, educators and leaders chose to move forward, testing whether learning can continue under difficult conditions. That choice reflects a collective belief that education must adapt rather than stop. As we pursue this hypothesis, we must acknowledge uncertainty while committing to continual improvement.
SEL Tip for Students: Choice matters. You won’t always choose perfectly, but each choice is an opportunity to learn and grow.
Step 4 – Conduct an Experiment: Returning to school in the time of a virus.
Right now, we are running a large-scale experiment: how to teach and learn when public health concerns shape daily routines. Each day brings new lessons about instruction, technology, engagement, and mental health. It’s essential for everyone’s mental well-being to remember that discovery and adjustment are part of the process.
SEL Tip for Students: Practice patience. Waiting and adapting without constant complaint helps you notice growth and learning even amid frustration.
Step 5 – Collect and Analyze Data: Numbers and human stories matter.
Data—case counts, in-person attendance, choices for remote learning, device availability, and Wi‑Fi access—paints a picture of the challenges and needs within communities. But behind every statistic are real students and families. Good analysis combines numbers with a human-centered perspective.
SEL Tip for Students: Put people first. Caring means paying attention to the well-being of others and acting with compassion.
Step 6 – Draw Conclusions and Report Results: Be honest, constructive, and forward-looking.
As the school year progresses, we will collect more evidence about how students are learning. Rather than labeling approaches as simply “good” or “bad,” we should ask practical questions: What is working? What needs improvement? How can we do better? Honest evaluation helps us iterate and refine practices for the long term.
SEL Tip for Students: Be truthful in your reflections and actions. Let the evidence guide your understanding rather than bending facts to fit your expectations.
As adults guiding children through uncertainty, we must nurture a growth mindset. This situation is not what any of us expected, but it is what we must work with. Open, calm dialogue with young people during unsettling times is essential. The lesson for students, families, and educators alike is to create, collaborate, and iterate—this is the essence of lifelong learning.
About the author
Tamara Fyke is an educator and social entrepreneur focused on supporting kids, families, and urban communities. She created Love In A Big World, which provides mental health, SEL, and wellness curriculum and content. During quarantine, Tamara developed MusiCity Kids, an online educational series for children that addresses health, movement, character development, STEAM, and more.
Tamara edited Building People: Social & Emotional Learning for Kids, Schools & Communities, a collection of perspectives on SEL for educators, parents, and leaders. Follow her commentary and work to learn more about student-centered approaches to education and wellness.
This article was originally published by The Learning Counsel, a research institute and news media hub focused on the shift to digital curriculum in education.