The Girton eLink

Teacher Reflections

Miss Kristy Nicholls

 

I left ‘Katherine School of the Air’ ten years ago, and I thought my days of remote teaching were over. Covid-19 proved that was not the case! 

 

When it was announced that Term 2 would be delivered online, the Mathematics department devised a plan, and worked together to develop explicit lesson plans which included zoom meetings, instructional videos, PowerPoints and other resources that would allow students to continue to learn from home with our full support. 

 

The amount of work involved in creating, delivering and maintaining the online Mathematics program was far greater than I anticipated. We had to learn how to use unfamiliar software within a very short period of time. We had to change the way we prepare, the way we teach, the way we monitor and assess students understanding and the way we provide assistance to students. As a department, we have conducted regular online progress quizzes to help gauge students understanding of the concepts within topics and have used this information to rectify any misconceptions. It has been pleasing to see most of my students achieving similar (or better) results during Term 2 to their in-class results during Term 1. This gives us reassurance that our online program has been successful.

 

The most challenging thing for me has been sitting in front of a screen for hours on end. To break up the screen time, I’ve used our extended lunch breaks to exercise outside (if weather permits). I have encouraged my students to do the same. I find that physical activity is just as beneficial to my mental health as it is to my physical fitness. Plus, it has been one of the few permitted activities that allows us to leave the house while the Covid-19 restrictions are in place.

 

Although this has been a challenging time for all, there have been some perks that come with working from home. These include:

  • Wearing casual clothes (and Ugg boots)
  • No commuting
  • More options when eating lunch at home
  • Exercising or doing odd jobs around the house during breaks
  • Full control of the heat setting
  • No ironing

Teachers, support staff, students and parents have demonstrated resilience, flexibility, patience and gratitude during this time of uncertainty. Everyone has contributed to making this term run as smoothly as it has. Term 2, 2020 has been an experience that we will talk about for years to come. We will appreciate our freedom and social interaction more than ever, when things finally return to normal.

 

 

 

Mrs Mandy Ellison

 

Eight weeks ago, when met with the concept of teaching Drama from home via remote learning, I wondered how this could even happen! The Drama classrooms are an open, interactive learning space, and thrives not only on physical face to face communication, but also the way the energy and personalities of individuals is shared in a collaborative environment. We play, experiment and present different forms of expression for performance: characters, scenes and stories. We laugh together when things are funny or if something does not work because everybody in the Drama classroom collectively works together to support, encourage and build trust so that everyone can feel success. My first Drama Zoom classes were approached with some trepidation, but I was also excited about the challenge of keeping the spirit of the active Drama class alive. 

 

Remote learning forced us back to being individuals behind a computer screen, and the process of building trust had to begin again with this new learning medium. In the drama classroom, students only see each other – they do not see themselves. We do crazy silly things that enable even the quietest student to find a new way of expressing themselves through voice, physicality and facial expression. But a Drama Zoom classroom changes these parameters. We can all see ourselves, all of the time and this may create a sense of vulnerability and fear of judgement from the small critical voice within. Some students have adapted like ducks to water. Others have found ‘performing’ on camera far more challenging than when they participated at school in the Drama classroom. We continue to work through the changes – and find strategies for resilience.

 

Technology has become a whole new sphere of learning in Drama during Term 2! We have adapted curriculum tasks, firstly to engage students in the use of technology, using Zoom to connect and share, break-out rooms to enable small group conversations and collaboration and shared Google Docs. Many students have embraced the use of technology such as movie making, Flipgrid, and photos to document and share their creative work. House Tutor meetings have been fun to start each day and we have enjoyed creative online games such as Kahoot, Scribblio and Jackbox TV. We have started our Zoom sessions sharing our pets, wearing silly hats, pulling faces and playing word games. The novelty of sharing pets and objects in the home as well as playing fun competitive games has been highly entertaining and has helped build connection and empathy. We have learned to appreciate more of the individual interests and values that each person brings to the space. 

 

In the midst of teaching classes from home, we have also been working on the year 12 production of Macbeth, rehearsing after school via Zoom 2 to 3 nights per week preparing for a Zoom performance in late June. As theatres and productions around the world have closed, likely for many months more yet, a team of enthusiastic senior students have been working hard to create an online production. This has been challenging but highly rewarding and has given us a positive goal to look forward to. 

 

It is now in Week 6 of Term 2. I have discovered there is such a thing as Zoom fatigue! I will look forward to being back at school again where I do not have to sit in front of a computer for so long. I will miss wearing my comfortable, cosy Ugg boots during the day. I am grateful to have had more opportunities to take time away from the screen to walk in the beautiful surrounds of the bush around our home. For me, remote teaching has not been as difficult as I expected and I am thankful that I work in a school that is able to support the use of technology to keep us all connected over this isolation experience. I feel very fortunate to have students in all classes who have been willing to adapt to the change in circumstances, explore new ways of learning and bring a positive attitude to everything we do.