Last month we showed you how primary school teachers were prepping for and imparting distance learning. It was a mixed bag with some schools having mastered platforms like google classroom and others still depending on paper-based learning.
And while primary schools have been working out the kinks for the better part of a month, most high schools only got started on Monday.
And while they're off to a later start it's assumed that high schoolers who seem to spend the better part of their lives on digital platforms would be better prepared for this type of learning, but is that the case? We put that question to two highschool principals this morning. Here's what we found out.
High school was back in session yesterday but not in any real sense. That's because in a world plagued by COVID-19, distance learning dominates.
And this morning, we headed to two very different high schools, one northside, and one southside, to find out how they've handled the challenges of imparting lessons to kids who aren't physically there.
Abigail Hoare, Acting Principal, Sadie Vernon Technical High School
"One of our major challenges is the fact that most of our children don't have devices, we have a lot of single parents who work very hard and there is one phone in the home and they have to use that device to work with them. We did a survey and it showed that the majority of our children don't have a device, so we had to resort to using hard copy, creating worksheet packages with cover pages giving the information and dates that parents or guardians would need to know. So the approach that we're using is the worksheet package because most of our children don't have devices yet."
"We know that our Ministry Of Education is working on that presently however we were informed as principals that those devices are in high demand across the world. So, the devices that Belize will be receiving will be coming in packages and in batches in phases and because we are not quite yet there, schools have to, you know, be flexible and adapt to other strategies. So the most feasible strategy for us that will be accommodating for our parents would be the cover sheets and the worksheets and here at school we just need to practice the social distancing and the COVID precautions necessary when handling those packages."
Over at SJC, Headmaster Fidel Pol says that his teachers, who started school on September 22nd, have distance learning down pat.
Fidel Pol, Headmaster, Saint John's College
"We are still doing several activities, you know we are coming up with innovate strategies to continue with that school culture, that student pride that St. John's is known for."
"I can relate to you an event that we had the freshmen drive through like two weeks ago. And next week we are going to have the pinning ceremony, it's still drive through format because we want to keep the students engaged but facing the current situation we have to also find alternative ways to do it."
And just like Sadie Vernon, SJC had to poll its student populace to find out how feasible online learning actually was.
Fidel Pol, Headmaster, Saint John's College
"At the beginning of the school year we did a survey with students and parents to determine the situation of the school, based on that survey we decided that it was okay for the school to start distance learning. The way we are doing it is that we are going fully online and then a couple of students are getting packages because they either don't have access to a device or to an internet connection so they are getting packages from our school."
Cherisse Halsall:
"And with that disparity even though it's not widespread how will you ensure that all the students are on the same page?"
Fidel Pol, Headmaster, Saint John's College
"We've created an academic guidance plan for the semester that was given to each teacher and the parents to note the requirements for each subject, they knew the activities that the strategies that would be used and even the assessments along with due dates for the entire first semester."
So, whether they're struggling with paper-based packages or thriving with tablets, this can't be the generation that gets academically left behind. And that's what's motivating teachers to improvise, because their task is to ensure that, learning tools aside, lessons are learnt not just by a few but by the many.
As we've told you, face to face learning may still be a long ways away with optimistic reports saying that it could start in the second semester of the school year and more pessimistic reports suggesting that it's off the table until August of 2021.
