Does distancing students affect teaching quality?

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Social distancing in schools comes with its own perks but there are also the negatives.

Distance in classrooms maintain discipline, better teaching as students won’t get distracted quickly by talking to their friends. There will be more concentration, teachers will be able to teach more easily as there will be fewer pupils in the class than usual and seated at a distance as of the new guidelines. This will increase the productivity and quality of teaching and learning. Teachers can smoothly get on with their day; assign the task and homework simply and communicate easily without any disturbance in the classroom.

As much as the above sounds amazing, there are also the disadvantages of social distancing in classrooms. Distancing means teachers can’t set any group work or continue group activities. Students have to work independently, this can affect their development later on as they won’t be used to engaging with their peers, working in teams together and that is vital skills that all should have especially when shifting to work-life in the future.

Teachers will be more careful and avoid getting close to students to help them out and move less around the classroom for the safety of all and will encourage distancing at all levels to maintain a safe environment for all. Teachers and students will have to use face masks, face shields, and wash hands more often to stay protected throughout the day. They may not wear it in the actual classroom but will wear it while walking around the building to their classroom or cafeteria.