Written by Rachel Pierson
My body has been beyond the confines of my yard twice in the last two weeks. My attention has been many places around the world. This current global pandemic is unknown and unfamiliar, yet we know that all things work together for the good of those who love God.
Our schools, businesses, and churches are closed. We see hashtags like #StayAtHome, #SocialDistancing, and #ShelterInPlace, and many government and health officials proclaim that we are not allowed to meet in groups. For me, that means that having dinner with the family members that live in the same town—once a weekly occurrence—now are not advised due to the number of people. It means that weekly worship with the family of believers now happens from my living room while many others do the same.
Yet we find new ways to share God’s love as well as continue to help students grow in their knowledge. Some states have proclaimed that schools will not reopen this school year. In others, teachers work overtime to prepare content and deliver lessons virtually, because no one knows yet how long this will last. What are things educators should remember as we embark on this remote learning experience?
Map: Coronavirus and School Closures (2020, March 6). Education Week. Retrieved March 27, 2020 from https://www.edweek.org/ew/section/multimedia/map-coronavirus-and-school-closures.html
First Of All . . .
An essential thing to remember is that students cannot do everything at home that they can do at school. The home setting is different from the classroom. If you have children, consider what kind of educational activities they can do at home and plan your lessons accordingly. You know your students and families best, so consider what kind of access they may have for distance learning. Determining their needs is important. “Maslow before Bloom”—if families are out of work, unable to afford food or lodging, schooling is not going to be at the forefront.
Accessing Virtual Lessons
How will students access the information you send them? Learning management systems allow for students to receive and submit assignments online; however, introducing too many new tools and systems without direct support is overwhelming and frustrating. If you have been using one system of sharing digital work (like Google Classroom, Seesaw, or Schoology), don’t immediately jump to something new. Don’t add on an abundance of new applications. Build from what students already know and are able to do.
Video as a Tool for Connection
We are never truly alone. God promised never to leave us. Though the common term is “social distancing,” we find ways to continue to be socially connected, though physically distanced. We can connect with students, friends, and family through any number of video platforms. Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Flipgrid, Skype, and many others are ways to visually meet with other people. What will be best for people in your ministry context? Is it possible to gather everyone at once? Could recording videos for students to watch on their own time work best? Are students able to use video as responses to their learning? Again, consider the specific needs of your families.
How to Stay Connected
If this situation hasn’t overwhelmed you at least once already, I’m proud of you! I know it’s easy to feel like all of a sudden things need to start from scratch. There are places you can go to connect with others who are in the same situation. There are a few groups on Facebook where WELS teachers have already been connecting before this pandemic, and we would welcome others to our midst to share ideas, find inspiration, and come together for the common good. Please follow any of these links to join: WELS Teachers, Tech Tools for WELS Teachers, and WELS Educators During Covid-19. Also, the WELSTech Podcast’s most recent episode includes Online Education Ideas (Episode 625). There are fellow teachers and support professionals ready and willing to help all of us figure out how to keep moving forward in the days and weeks ahead. May God continue to bless you, and may you and yours remain safe and healthy.
Rachel Pierson (’05) currently serves as an EdTech Curriculum Developer and Coach in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Good thoughts and reminders, Rachel. One thing I’ll add is that none of us signed up to teach online on purpose! This means you won’t be perfect at any of this–right now. There is nothing to compare yourself to: don’t compare yourself to other teachers you see online; don’t compare it to your online learning experience; don’t compare online teaching to face-to-face teaching.
Finally, teachers, start small in your lessons. Then ask your students how it is going and what they would like. Add something new each week to your teaching until the students are comfortable. Seek to make your online teaching better this week than last week. And above all, pray without ceasing! God’s got this!
Thanks Rachel for your thoughts in this stressful time. One element I will note is that teachers need to differentiate how they do asynchronous versus synchronous days of instruction for middle and high school. That has been a challenge in some of the work I am doing at my school. The other element of the remote learning is for teachers not to sweat being perfect when using video. That is tough to do at times. Relax and use the same personality you used in the classroom.
God bless.