Teacher Reflections

Mrs Kymberley Hogan

When I was a young girl my favourite cartoon was the Jetsons. Flying around in their car and all the gadgets in their “space-agey” home. In the opening credits Elroy gets dropped from the “car” into his mini-car to “zoom” off to his school to be taught by his robot teacher.

Fast forward to a Pandemic in 2020 (not quite 2063) and here I am, dropped into my home workspace, “zooming” into school. I’m not quite a robot and I think it’s safe to say that teachers are not going to be replaced by them any time soon.

I love a challenge and I also really love learning new things, I’m also relatively competent with technology and have had such wonderful support from the I.T Department and my Head of Department to trouble shoot any issues. Luckily in Science we have been utilising the Flipping the Classroom Model for many years and much of our Direct Instruction has been pre-recorded into small videos for students to access. This has meant that students are able to learn the content via these videos and then work on activities to explore and question these new concepts.

Unfortunately, though, my favourite part of teaching Science is the practical, experimental activities, and this really cannot be done. However, we have some wonderful online learning platforms, STILE and Education Perfect to fill the gaps and allow students to work at their own pace to consolidate their learning of any new content. I then provide real-time feedback as they are learning. Yes, I can even see what they are working on at any given time and if they are distracted from the task (cue evil laugh).

Add to this a couple of my own kids, Grace, 4 and Quincy, almost 2, and it has been a pretty wild ride. My husband Chris is also a teacher, so we have been juggling both our Zoom classes and entertaining our kids. Luckily both kids enjoy seeing the students on our screens each day and it’s very cute when the students all wave back at them.

While we are all making the best of this challenging situation, the major thing this has highlighted is that teaching isn’t just about filling young minds up with facts and figures, it’s so, so much more. Being able to connect with young people and make them feel a part of something is why we do what we do, and that is all but missing from behind the computer screen. But I’m looking forward to getting back to that part as soon as it is safe to do so.

Mr Dean Norris

With the halfway mark of the term looming, the myriad of questions hazed by uncertainty continue, like "when can we go back to school? How long until I can see my friends? Seriously, when is the footy coming back on?". I admit I have been agitated and anxious at times considering these questions and many more that are beyond my realm of control. Yet there is certainly a silver lining. Without the hustle of the morning routine, and the advantage of sunlight and extra time at lunch, more opportunities for self-care have consequently presented.

Like many teachers, I met the holidays with nervousness. I wondered how traditional Physical Education lessons could be delivered in front of a computer screen to an audience likely to be participating in their bedrooms or living rooms. However, working with so many optimistic and talented teachers, this was going to be another opportunity to share exciting new experiences with our students; a chance to offer lessons that empower students with the tools for taking care of themselves both physically and mentally. 

Four weeks into the term and our students have been open and comfortable to complete high-intensity workouts, yoga and meditation on Zooms. Some have established consistent routines for exercising, and our Year 10 students got creative with cooking healthy meals and reviewing their nutritional value in class. I have read countless, insightful reflections from students who have set new goals for reducing screen time, improving their sleep and getting more active, and their achievements of these goals are satisfying and uplifting. Learning and practising these things can provide students with skills that will benefit their bodies and minds for a lifetime.

Teaching these classes and sharing these skills has also given me the time and motivation to practice what I'm preaching, taking advantage of exercising, reading or playing with my dog during breaks. It is during these times that a feeling of gratitude overwhelms me and the challenges we are all facing come into perspective. I realise how lucky I am to be working at school capable of offering home learning; how appreciative I am for the supportive students, staff and parents of our community; and how fortunate I am to live in a home with four walls and a roof.