Remote Learning from the Pathways Hub

The Senior School Pathways Hub is for students who find difficulty accessing the mainstream curriculum for a range of reasons. The Hub, located at 38 Wattle Street, is visited by up to 30 students per day, some for a short time and some for several periods at a time. It is a busy and vibrant place – or at least it was.

As tumbleweeds roll down Wattle Street, and the Pathways Hub is deserted, Pathways students have embraced the “new normal”.  Providing remote learning for the Pathways students has been a rewarding challenge. Most students have adapted brilliantly but some have needed considerable support and reassurance, which they are getting. The encouraging thing is that most students are developing a routine and readily ask for help when required. Those who are slower to adapt or reluctant to get online are contacted regularly and given support. Parents are also given support and advice and we encourage them to seek help as needed.

Because each student in Pathways works on an individualised program, the task for teachers and aides is daunting and requires an extraordinary amount of planning and coordination, overseen by the indefatigable Mr Vernon. The ability of teachers and aides to be flexible and to “think on their feet” is a must as they navigate their way through the day.

At the start of each day, students log in for a group video conference using Microsoft Teams. During this session they have the chance to chat to each other and get information from their teachers about the day ahead. They are all provided with a “playlist” each morning which outlines the tasks that they need to complete.

Once students get to work, they are monitored online. Teachers and aides have online access to the students’ work so they can see how they are progressing.

To get immediate support as needed, each Pathways student has his or her own individual online team channel. Members of that team include the student and any teachers or aides who assist that student to learn. The student can start a chat, either in text or by video, with his or her teachers or aides at any time. This allows students to get immediate individual, face to face assistance. They can get useful feedback about their work so that they can continue with confidence. Several students and teachers can carry out more than one online conversation at a time.

At the end of the day, the students and adults meet again for a video de-briefing session which is usually loud, happy and full of excited teenagers keen to hear what each other has been up to during the day. Last Thursday it was decided that for the afternoon meeting, all students and teachers should wear a hat, the stranger the better. The result was hilarious.

Please click on the images above to view the gallery

With a long way to go before classes return to the Girton Campus, students and adults in the Pathways Hub are well set to see out the journey in a positive frame of mind. The mutual care, concern and respect being shown by these students is wonderful. Maintaining this atmosphere and the momentum of student learning is the goal.

Mr Dennis Garoni