Unique opportunities for learning
These unprecedented times are providing unique opportunities for learning. This school year students and staff have been challenged with the COVID19 pandemic, Illinois Phase-Closures, remote-learning, the BLM protests, the current political climate, not to mention the loss of normal middle school experiences such as extracurricular activities. In spite of these trying times, amazing learning is happening. Both the students and staff will come out of this school year gaining many valuable skills. At the very least our vocabulary has expanded with such words and phases as social distance, adaptive-pause, hybrid/blended, synchronous/asynchronous, Zoom, superspreader, PPE, N95, self-care, learning plans, phase 1,2,3, and 4, flattening the curve, breakout rooms, tele-conference, mask-break, ……….
The Students
A quick internet search comes up a list of the top 10 soft skills that are considered essential traits among employees:
- Communication
- Teamwork
- Problem-solving
- Time management
- Critical thinking
- Decision-making
- Organizational
- Creativity
- Adaptability
- Resourcefulness
Our current educational environment is providing opportunities for students to utilize these skills in ways that just would not naturally present themselves in a traditional school year. The growth in these skills have been impressive. Managing assignments, keeping track of Blue Days and White Days, and logging in to class Meets on time all require excellent organizational and time management skills. These are skills that will not disappear once we come out of this, but will continue to be utilized and improved. As teachers, we have developed lessons that specifically provide opportunities for collaboration in a virtual environment. But, it is the authentic teamwork and communication that organically comes out of their shared experiences that impresses me. Whether it is troubleshooting a Chromebook problem with someone (often me), posting and responding to each other's questions about assignments in Google Classroom, or helping a classmate unable to join class due to internet issues participate in class discussions via a creative use of FaceTime. They are relying on each other and collectively taking ownership of their own learning. Examples of problem solving and creativity are endless. I rarely hear what I refer to as a First Quarter Excuse, such as “I couldn't find…”, “It wouldn't let me turn in…” or “I was gone, what did we do in class?” The students are getting stubborn with regards to success, and have internalized the grit it takes to get the job done. And, in some very unique ways I might add. The level of flexibility and the ability to adapt that the students display impresses me. When we entered our Adaptive-Pause students moved seamlessly from in person to remote. Being absent from class rarely happens for the majority of students. Whether quarantining at home, in the car on the way to a medical appointment, or on a family vacation, they are finding ways to attend class, and more importantly, learning!
The Teachers and Staff
Teachers are also embracing the opportunity to to improve their own skill sets. Although the learning curve has been steeper than any of us would have liked, teachers and paraprofessionals are doing amazing things in the classroom as well. The district continues to provide professional development opportunities in the areas of technology and blended learning. Teachers are implementing this new information and continually improving the learning experiences for students. Teachers who are working remotely, and the staff assisting them, have done a great job of creating a hybrid environment that provides effective instruction for all students in spite of not being able to be in the classroom with them. For me personally, embracing a blended learning model in my classroom has increased the amount of independent learning opportunities for students, and allowed me to conference with individual students on a more frequent basis than prior to adopting this teaching model. The PE department has modified their curriculum to incorporate more personalized learning; giving students more personal choice in their physical activities. All of these changes have improved instruction and student engagement. Many of us will take the best of these adaptations and make them a permanent part of our classroom environment when we come out on the other side of this.
There is a quote on my classroom wall that reads, “History never looks like history when you are living through it.” I think that it is time to permanently retire it to the circular file, and replace it with “We’re not living through history, we’re making it!”
Erin Flanigan
HBRMS Social Studies