Working parents express interest in micro-schooling option

Micro-schooling uses a network of parents and places to create safe spaces for students

Micro-schooling uses a network of parents and places to create safe spaces for students

SHELLY: BUT FIRST, WITH COVID CASES CONTINUING TO RISE IN NEW MEXICO, PARENTS ARE GETTING CREATIVE AS VIRTUAL SCHOOL BECOMES THE NORM. WORKING PARENTS KNOW THEY CAN’T BE IN TWO PLACES AT ONCE, AND MANY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW EFFECTIVE, AN ONLINE-ONLY EDUCATION CAN BE. ACTION 7 NEWS REPORTER BRANDON EVANS IS LIVE WITH INFORMATI ON A NEW KIND OF LEARNING CALLED MICRO-SCHOOLIN BRANDON: MICRO-SCHOOLING IS SOMETHING THAT HAS STARTED TO GAIN TRACTION NATIONALLY AS AN ALTERNATIVE BACK-TO-SCHOOL OPTION. IT’S ALSO GOT THE ATTENTION OF PARENTS HERE IN NEW MEXICO. >> PARENTS PROBABLY FEEL REALLY LOST RIGHT NOW. BRANDON SARAH MADDEN IS LIKE : MANY MOTHERS, A WORKING MOM OF TWO WHO JUST WANTS HER KIDS TO BE SAFE AND GET A GOOD EDUCATIO >> THERE’S NO RIGHT ANSWER RIGHT NOW, UNFORTUNATELY. BRANDON MOST DISTRICTS ARE : KEEPING CLASSES ONLINE UNTIL AFTER LABOR DAY. WITH A FULL RETURN TO CLASS STILL NOT LIKELY A CHOICE THEN SHE’S LEFT WITH AT-HOME OR A MIX OF IN-CLASS AND ONLINE. AND FOR HER THAT’S NOT ENOUGH OPTIONS. FULL-TIME WORKING PARENTS NEED A LOT OF CHOICES RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IT’S GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO EITH STOP WORKING, START WORKING FROM HOME AND EDUCATE THEIR CHILD. BRANDON THAT’S WHY SHE’S : INTERESTED IN MICRO-SCHOOLING. A NETWORK OF AVAILABLE PARENTS AND LOCATIONS WHERE KIDS CAN LEARN ONLINE JUST NOT ALONE. ,>> IF I HOME SCHOOL MY CHILD , I’M NOT A TEACHER I DON’T DO , WELL ON A SCHEDULE, SO I HAVE SOMEONE ELSE, OTHER PARENTS THAT CAN HELP ME ORGANIZE A SCHEDULE AND KEEP ME ACCOUNTABLE. BRANDON SHE SAYS PARENTS WOULD : HAVE TO BE WILLING TO STEP U AND VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME. SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, OR COMMUNITY CENTERS WOULD ALSO HAVE TO OPE FOR THESE ISOLATION PODS, OR WORKSPACES WHERE SMALL GROUPS OF KIDS CAN SAFELY WORK. >> I FEEL LIKE THIS COULD BE AT LEAST A CONVERSATION STARTER TO SEE WHAT SOMEONE MIGHT BE AB TO BRING TO THE TABLE. BRANDON SPEAKING OF STARTING : CONVERSATIONS SHE’S NOW HOPING , THAT PARENTS CAN COME TOGETHER TO CREATE A NETWORK, LIKE A FACEBOOK GROUP, WHERE THEY CAN GET TOGETHER AND TALK ABOUT THE POSSIBILITIES OF MICRO-SCHOOLING WORKING HE IN NEW MEXICO. BR

Working parents express interest in micro-schooling option

Micro-schooling uses a network of parents and places to create safe spaces for students

Working parents know they can't be in two places at once, and many are concerned about how effective an online-only education can be. Sister station KOAT-TV has information on a new kind of learning called "micro-schooling."It’s started to gain traction nationally as an alternative back-to-school option.“Parents probably feel really lost right now,” Sarah Madsen said.Madsen is like many mothers, a working mom of two who just wants her kids to be safe and get a good education.“There's no right answer right now, unfortunately,” she said.School districts are typically keeping classes online until after Labor Day.And with a full return to class still not likely a choice then, she's left with at-home or a mix of in-class and online learning.She said that is not enough options.“Full-time working parents need a lot of choices right now, because it's going to be very difficult for them to either stop working, start working from home and educate their child,” she said.That's why she's interested in micro-schooling — a network of available parents and locations where kids can learn online, just not alone.“If I homeschool my child, I'm not a teacher. I don't do well on a schedule, so I have someone else, other parents that can help me organize a schedule and keep me accountable,” she said.She said parents would have to be willing to step up and volunteer their time.Schools, churches or community centers would also have to open to house isolation pods, work spaces where small groups of kids can safely work.“I feel like this could be at least a conversation starter to see what someone might be able to bring to the table,” she said.Madsen is now hoping that parents can come together to create a network in their community in New Mexico where they can see if micro-schooling is possible.

Working parents know they can't be in two places at once, and many are concerned about how effective an online-only education can be.

Sister station KOAT-TV has information on a new kind of learning called "micro-schooling."

It’s started to gain traction nationally as an alternative back-to-school option.

“Parents probably feel really lost right now,” Sarah Madsen said.

Madsen is like many mothers, a working mom of two who just wants her kids to be safe and get a good education.

“There's no right answer right now, unfortunately,” she said.

School districts are typically keeping classes online until after Labor Day.

And with a full return to class still not likely a choice then, she's left with at-home or a mix of in-class and online learning.

She said that is not enough options.

“Full-time working parents need a lot of choices right now, because it's going to be very difficult for them to either stop working, start working from home and educate their child,” she said.

That's why she's interested in micro-schooling — a network of available parents and locations where kids can learn online, just not alone.

“If I homeschool my child, I'm not a teacher. I don't do well on a schedule, so I have someone else, other parents that can help me organize a schedule and keep me accountable,” she said.

She said parents would have to be willing to step up and volunteer their time.

Schools, churches or community centers would also have to open to house isolation pods, work spaces where small groups of kids can safely work.

“I feel like this could be at least a conversation starter to see what someone might be able to bring to the table,” she said.

Madsen is now hoping that parents can come together to create a network in their community in New Mexico where they can see if micro-schooling is possible.

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