[staff] Virtual workshops.. in person?
For the last two months or so I’ve been working with 4 students from Ramapo Technology Club. These students are participating in an after school club at Suffern Middle School in NY, and have volunteered to be part of GK’s D.I.D.I. Initiative. We meet every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon, virtually, in TSL. Over the past weeks I’ve gotten to know each teen, and the dynamic of the group. I’ve learned who the quiet thinker is, which one is the natural leader, and which one is the ‘class clown.’
It’s been interesting working so consistently with a group - in a virtual setting. There are some things I was beginning to question, though. Despite reiteration of our GK guideline of ‘safe space’, I noticed a continued banter among the group, different from what I would accept in a classroom. Sometimes I would step in and remind them. Other times, they’d remind each other. I also noticed occasional long lags in response time during conversations and tasks. “Are they there?” I’d wonder. “Are they bored?” Sometimes they tell us they are bored. That’s helpful.
Despite my concerns, the Ramapo group has been most impressive with their dedication to the DIDI Venture. Attendance is great, and once we get going, participation is never an issue. This group has begun to think deeply about their community, and how they can make a difference.
Unlike most of the students we will work with in DIDI, the Ramapo kids are only 30 miles out of NYC. I decided last week to take advantage of this, and planned a visit to the Middle School. That Thursday we logged into TSL as usual, but this time, I was on my laptop in the same room with them. The other DIDI facilitators were in their usual locations in their offices. I reminded the students that this workshop would take place within TSL as usual, and they should continue with the workshop like all the others.
As the workshop progressed, I began to better understand my earlier concerns. The lags in response time within TSL all made more sense now. I saw that they were talking to each other because perhaps one was having a technical difficulty, or maybe they were talking about the topic, or how they want to split the task, etc. They were a great deal less distracted than I had previously thought. There had just been no way for us to see this from our virtual interactions.
To my delight and surprise, I also now understood the banter within TSL. These kids DO like each other. The comments they make inside TSL are accompanied by giggles and playful comments in person.
I won’t say that this experience has turned me off to working with youth virtually. However, it was great to meet the kids in person. I was not only able to put a real face to an avatar, but I was able to HEAR the laughter and SEE the smiles as we worked. I appreciate that this is not an opportunity I will often have. I hope that, although each group is different, I can apply some of these realizations to future groups, and consider the dynamic of those groups in a new light.
