Home learning

Online learning begins as school closure extended

With the COVID-19 outbreak in Ontario showing no signs of easing, the Ministry of Education has extended the closure of all public schools until at least May 4. Private schools and child care centres will remain closed until April 13, unless that date is extended by the province. In order to mitigate the effects on students of having no in-school instruction, school boards have been ordered to implement teacher-led learning as of April 6. In a letter to parents, Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education, outlined what this plan will entail. The strategy is designed based upon technology and resources currently available in students’ homes, with provisions being made for local school boards to provide their inventory of computers and devices to those students who do not have in-home access. In addition, school boards are exploring alternative options for students’ access to technology, particularly for rural and remote communities where broadband connections may not be available.

The education ministry has outlined minimum standards for student work-time and teacher communication. For Kindergarten to Grade 6, students are expected to do five hours of assigned work per week, focusing on areas including literacy, math, science and social studies. Students in Grades Seven and Eight are expected to do 10 hours of work per week. For students in Grades Nine to 12, they are expected to do three hours of work per course per week for semestered students, with a focus on credit accumulation and graduation. “Based on these expectations, this second phase of Learn at Home will require students to adopt academic discipline and commitment to ensure they can experience continued academic growth and achievement,” writes Lecce. The needs of children with special education requirements are also being addressed. The provincial government has instructed boards to immediately restore communication between students and educational assistants and other workers to reintroduce the continuity of professional support to students. In addition Lecce noted that the uncertainty of these times may be a contributor to fear and anxiety, particularly for the youngest learners. “Our government has directed school boards to ensure mental health workers and professional staff are ready to engage students immediately in a secure and safe conversation. We continue to support the incredible work being done to provide wrap-around counselling and resources to students across the province,” he writes.

The speed at which the shift to e-learning has been implemented is extraordinary. A process that in more normal times would take months or even years has been compressed into mere days. The Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board (HPEDSB) has changed its entire approach to providing education and way of doing business, now utilizing technology, virtual and online learning, and remote studentteacher contact. During an interview on County Radio (99.3 FM), HPEDSB Director of Education Sean Monteith described some of the changes that have been or will be implemented. “How we provide public education, how we deliver teaching, how we evaluate our kids, how we’re supporting our teachers, how we’re providing support or structures for people’s well-being and mental health, all of that is changing, because it has to,” he said. “I can tell you right now that e-learning has become part of our universe, in a very visceral way. The way we teach kids and use remote access has changed forever. Conversations that have been happening in the background about universal access to technology and broadband, those things now need to get to the forefront. If we look at everything through a lens of equity, meaning everybody has the same opportunity to be successful, then they have to have a level playing field, and right now we know that’s not the case. So we’re going to have to change that as quickly as humanly possible.” He said that the situation with COVID-19 has brought public education firmly into the 21st century, and at a staggering speed. “We have not been given the privilege of debating whether or not some things can be done. We have had to do them. We’ve had to operate at absolutely warp speed. People are relentlessly giving of themselves to access learning, resources, staff. I’m talking about front line teachers at PECI who are doing amazing things, or teachers at Mass-Red, all-hands-on-deck, full speed.”

Monteith said that one of the key factors is ensuring that student graduation from Grade Eight or Grade 12 will not be compromised. “Whatever we need to do to make sure these students are on track to graduate, we are going to work with our families to be reassured we have not lost sight of that.” While there are still some details to be worked out, Monteith said that over 90 per cent of staff are well-equipped, have access to technology and are comfortable with online education. The board is distributing its inventory of laptops and Chromebooks (after proper sanitization) to those teachers or students who may need them, and will be in constant contact with parents. “We’ve made it a priority to communicate with our families and our staff, and that it’s honest and transparent. We will be up-front, and if we don’t have the answer right now, we will find the answer.”

The success of this approach to learning rests upon the front line teachers. Andrew Holmes teaches Health and Physical Education at Grades 11 and 12, and Food and Nutrition at Grade 10 at PECI. He has been learning how to use digital technology and trying to find what will work best for his students and his teaching areas. He has been in contact with all of his students to determine how they are doing physically and mentally, as well as if they have access to proper resources for online learning. “First and foremost, I am emphasizing that their wellness is still the number one priority,” he said. For his Health and Physical Education students, he will be asking them to complete an assigned task each day that does not require any special equipment or space and record it in a log. He is also highlighting the importance of making “better choices more often” when it comes to physical activity, sleep and eating habits. “These things have a direct influence on their overall health and well-being,” he said. His Food and Nutrition students will be encouraged to get some hands-on experience by helping to plan and prepare meals at home. “I will throw a few cooking-at-home challenges in there as well. It will be fun!” While Holmes is excited to be back in communication with his students, he knows that it will be a challenging time for both them and him. “We have fantastic students here in PEC. I told them we are all in this together, I will be learning with them and it won’t be perfect.” For him, the biggest challenge is not being physically present in the classroom each day with them, where he can gauge their learning and give them immediate feedback, or have those face-to-face conversations that can reveal how well they are coping. “I really can’t wait to be back in the gym, in the classroom, with the students and staff of PECI.”

For more information about online learning resources, please visit hpedsb.on.ca