From Kindergarten to high school, most virtual learners in Bradford report positive experiences so far since the return to “school” schedules.
While many students returned to the classrooms for face-to-face learning in September, a large percentage of students stayed home due to the unpredictable ongoing pandemic.
Virtual students and teachers were left in the dark right up until a few days before online schooling began. Those who required technology for at home learning were distributed throughout the first week of online class.
There were expected hiccups during the first week – failed login attempts to online education portals, frozen screens, and dropped internet – but teachers pushed through this first-time experience while students embraced the new wave of learning.
Brigette Garrote, a Bradford mother of three kids, are all participating in virtual learning and report that all three are enjoying their classes so far.
“My youngest (age 12, grade 7) said it has been the best year and he’s understanding everything," shares Garrote about her son Brad who is registered at Fieldcrest Public School. “My other son (Brendyn, grade 9) says he likes it more as he is on an IEP and it goes slower for him and he understands better."
Ashley Banez-Momney reports that her daughter Annabelle who is in grade 5 has been loving the structure of having everything she needs to do, right in front of her.
“I feel like I’m really a part of my class and I like answering questions more,” shares Annabelle.
For some online classes, teachers have tried to bring some of the consistencies from being in an actual classroom to the virtual screen, such as singing the national anthem in the mornings. And almost all teachers have allowed “movement” breaks so that students can get up and stretch their legs and get a break from the screen.
In some cases, many students are learning more effectively online.
“My son is in grade 5. Every past year we have fought with him in the morning about going to school – he would complain every day of stomach aches or headaches,"explains Brenda Dainty. “Now we have no issues. He’s up every morning, earlier than he needs to be and ready and willing to start his virtual day – he’s loving it!”
Classes for online secondary students are split into two courses; students are required to spend the morning half on one course and the afternoon on the other course with a minimum of 90 minutes of online instruction per course.
“I am very pleased with the teachers’ effort," states Maria Timm, who has three children in school, one who is in grade 12. “Everything laid out is good… we had some concerns and doubts but everything is good so far."
Not all parents and children were able to embrace online learning however, and some have resorted to homeschooling on their own.
“I live in an area with poor Internet,” explains Tricia Malcolm. “My daughter is in grade 1 and the loading and reloading, not being able to see the class is posing real learning frustrations… we purchased curriculum on Amazon and do lessons when not online."
Fieldcrest Public School reports that the number of students who returned to in-class learning dropped to around 700, while 300 of their remaining students opted for virtual learning.
“I am one of those teachers that love a challenge and love to learn new things,” shares Tereena Clarke, a grade 2 teacher in the Learn@Home program based out of Bradford.
“I have tried to build our online classroom community by sharing read aloud stories and videos that stress a positive growth mindset, inclusion, and perseverance… Online learning isn’t the teacher talking and lecturing to students the whole day. It’s being a facilitator in deeper and more focused conversations, presenting thought-provoking materials for review and guiding students through learning explorations."
"We have frequent movement breaks and time away from the screen to work independently. Our first two weeks of online learning have been fun, engaging, and enjoyable. I am looking forward to continuing this learning adventure with my online Learn@Home students."
Clarke has developed a Bitmoji virtual persona that the students find “cute” and help to connect with the class better during online lessons.
While a gradual return to a new “normal” appears to be going smoothly for educators, as the province moves into a second wave of COVID, some parents of children who are attending classes in-person are now inquiring if they can transfer their children(s) into the virtual classes.
Anyone wishing to transfer to either in-person or virtual learning will need to wait until the next restructuring timeframe.
