By DEB BENTLY
Contributing Writer
One thing needs to be perfectly clear: “This is NOT a series of ‘flexible learning’ days,” states NRHEG school superintendent Dale Carlson.
“I see ‘flexible’ learning as a system to maintain an educational plan,” explains elementary principal Doug Anderson. “Our ‘distance learning’ is designed to help students expand their academic skills.”
“It’s very much a work in progress,” observes secondary principal Dave Bunn. “We’re building this particular plane in the air.
“The important thing is, everyone at the schools is working together to get the engine running and the wings attached.”
Figurative language aside, NRHEG district employees have been using the time frame allotted, March 16 to 27, to create plans and find delivery systems for the many levels and types of learning which are usually delivered in the school building, but now must be shared remotely.
“Our one-to-one technology initiative is a valuable foundation,” comments Bunn. “Those districts who haven’t issued electronic devices to their students are at a real disadvantage in this process.”
Starting March 30, as designated by the state, digital instruction will be delivered both in real time virtual “class meetings,” and by allowing students to access recorded lessons online. “For some of our staff, it’s simply an expansion of methods they were already using,” says Bunn. “For others, there is a rather steep learning curve as they acquire the knowledge and skills to carry this out.
“In most cases, in addition to everything else, secondary teachers are using this time to modify their materials and their assessments to fit the new format.”
“Our elementary teachers feel it’s very important to maintain a personal connection with their students,” comments Anderson. “The plan right now is to use electronic media to have morning meetings.” Various elementary teachers also expect to have instructional packets delivered to students’ homes. Learners will be asked to complete them ‘paper/pencil’ and then return them for assessment and recording.
“It’s very important that our students pay attention to emails and other communications from the school,” comments Carlson. “The scores and grades earned by participating in distance learning will become part of their permanent records.”
“Communication is utterly essential,” says Bunn. “Some elements of the next few weeks will be developing and changing as time goes on. Students need to stay in touch with their teachers and make an effort to keep informed. If they have specific concerns or complications, they need to share those. Our teachers have always been flexible and understanding to the best of their ability. That’s something that won’t change.”
Just as many elementary teachers will be having morning check-ins with their students, secondary teachers expect to be teaching a day of virtual classes each Monday, following the schedule used during a typical school day. This means that, on Mondays, students should be prepared to spend the school day online, communicating with each respective teacher and set of classmates in turn. Other days of the week will be less firmly scheduled, with assignments and learning activities which can be completed according to individual commitments.
As required by the state department of education, records of daily attendance will be kept. Elementary students will be marked present when they take part in the morning virtual meetings. Secondary students will be expected to access materials related to each individual class each day in order to be marked “present”; to be credited with a full day of attendance, they will need to meet the criteria established by their teachers—in some cases as many as seven, depending on individual schedules.
“There’s no denying that these are tumultuous, confusing times,” says Carlson. “Some things, though, don’t change. In this case, staff members at our schools are keeping the well-being of our students close to their hearts. They are looking for new and expanded ways to meet the students’ needs, even when that means acquiring new skills.”
“Come Monday,” says Anderson, “our students will again have access to their teachers, complete with their knowledge, skills, and individual personalities. We regret that we’ve been ‘closed’ for the last week or more, and that we must keep the doors of our buildings locked. But we’re determined to give our students both the academic progress they deserve and the human levels of empathy, support, and acceptance that are our standard.”