{"id":1492,"date":"2020-04-07T15:00:20","date_gmt":"2020-04-07T20:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.mlc-wels.edu\/wels-educator\/?p=1492"},"modified":"2020-04-03T12:36:29","modified_gmt":"2020-04-03T17:36:29","slug":"school-closures-and-distance-learning-for-lutheran-schools","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.mlc-wels.edu\/wels-educator\/2020\/04\/07\/school-closures-and-distance-learning-for-lutheran-schools\/","title":{"rendered":"School Closures and Distance Learning for Lutheran Schools"},"content":{"rendered":"

Written by Rachel Pierson<\/em><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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\u2014once a weekly occurrence\u2014now 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.<\/p>\n

Yet we find new ways to share God\u2019s 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?<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

First Of All . . .<\/strong>
\nAn 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. \u201cMaslow before Bloom\u201d\u2014if families are out of work, unable to afford food or lodging, schooling is not going to be at the forefront.<\/p>\n

Accessing Virtual Lessons<\/strong>
\nHow 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\u2019t immediately jump to something new. Don\u2019t add on an abundance of new applications. Build from what students already know and are able to do.<\/p>\n

Video as a Tool for Connection<\/strong>
\nWe are never truly alone. God promised never to leave us. Though the common term is \u201csocial distancing,\u201d 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.<\/p>\n

How to Stay Connected<\/strong>
\nIf this situation hasn\u2019t overwhelmed you at least once already, I\u2019m proud of you! I know it\u2019s 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<\/a>, Tech Tools for WELS Teachers<\/a>, and WELS Educators During Covid-19<\/a>. Also, the WELSTech Podcast\u2019s most recent episode includes Online Education Ideas (Episode 625).<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

Rachel Pierson (\u201905) currently serves as an EdTech Curriculum Developer and Coach in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.<\/em><\/p>\n

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