Impact of Distance Learning During a Pandemic

On January 11, the ABC League of Women Voters will discuss the impact of distance learning and the pandemic on student mental health, academic progress, opportunities and challenges.  We will hear from a school psychologist, a parent of children with disabilities, a music teacher and a high school student.  Each person will discuss the impact of distance learning and social isolation from their experiences.   We will talk about the impacts as we know then today, but recognize that there will be more that we will learn about how the needs of our students  and staff evolve as a result of this experience. 

6:00 Zoom meeting room opens  (link in Jan '21 newsletter, and will be sent in email to all members on Jan 9)
6:00 to 6:30–Getting connected and visiting
6:30-Announcements and Program
 
Our panelists:

• Aaron Balzer is a school psychologist from Anoka Hennepin.  He will provide a broad perspective on the issues of how the pandemic has impacted the mental well-being of the students. 
• Amanda Friedrich is the parent of two children with disabilities.  She will share some of the characteristics of Pediatric Autoimmune Psychiatric Disorder and Mast Cell Disorder as both of these disorders are relatively new to school within educational environments.
• Andrea Whitcomb will address the challenges and opportunities she has found in distance teaching and concerns she has regarding student’s participation and progress.
• Sebastian Whitcomb is a Junior at Anoka High School.  Sebastian will share his experiences with distance learning, opportunities and challenges .  

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