Page 42 - Tropic Magazine Issue 223

TROPIC • EDUCATION

Paul Sjogren
Principal
Trinity Anglican School

Brave new world

of teaching adjustments. Classes, from Years 3 to be able to concentrate effectively for 6
10, have also trialed online learning to 7 hours working online each day, and
As the nation and the world works to whilst at school. Whilst this doesn’t so some adjustments to timetabling
reduce the spread of coronavirus, our take into account issues such as need to take place.
young people and teaching staff are bandwidth restrictions or individual
showing how agile and flexible they student internet connections at home, It is also worth noting that some
students will not be as adept at
can be. Online learning is an approach it allows the teacher and students
that will allow students to continue to to establish certain protocols and self-engagement as their peers, and
engage in learning whilst locked down procedures that will be useful once they younger students may not have an
adult available at all times to help guide
at home and not able to physically are working from home.
attend school. Whilst we use a variety of VLEs (Virtual them through the learning exercises.
Failing to understand what they are
Teaching staff at schools have worked Learning Environments), LMSs
hard to prepare lessons, content and (Learning Management Systems), the being asked to do and not keeping up
their students for this paradigm shift, Microsoft suite of programs and a with their peers can cause anxiety in
some students.
foisted upon the education sector by variety of other apps, each teacher is
this pandemic. At Trinity Anglican able to select the tools, methods and Students can help themselves by taking
School, we have been identifying presentation that best suits their topic, note of the following tips:
certain factors that will help this new subject, age of students and teaching • take regular breaks
approach be successful. style, rather than a “one-size-fits-all” • make time to exercise
As a school with take home devices approach. • keep to a regular sleep schedule
from Years 5 to 12, our students are Teaching staff needed time to plan • limit distractions when possible
used to employing their devices in the lessons, and this has been difficult (turn off social media notifications,
usual classroom teaching and learning whilst they are still teaching students for example)
program as well as at home. However, face-to-face and catering for some • set daily and weekly goals.
the extra elements that will be used, students who are not attending It is also important that the school
such as 2-way video conferencing and classes. Most schools will provide incorporates student wellbeing
chat rooms, need to become second teachers some time to prepare initiatives and opportunities. By
nature to our students and teachers. between a closure announcement regularly checking in on each student,
As part of this preparation, we held a and the commencement of the online making counsellors and pastoral staff
trial day for our Year 11 and 12 students learning program. Our staff have been available, and scheduling down time
to work remotely. The feedback they encouraged to consider: throughout the day, we can monitor
provided was very informative and • breaking learning experiences into student wellbeing and help them think
allowed us to make some important smaller chunks positively.
• be clear about expectations for We are entering a brave new world.
online participation (such as taking Good luck.
attendance)
• providing frequent feedback MORE: tas.qld.edu.au
through knowledge checks,
comments on collaborative
documents and chat to keep
students motivated and moving
forward
• including virtual meetings, live
chats or video tutorials.
In addition, teachers need to
understand that many students will not

42 • Tropic • Issue 23