Secondary School Online Learning

 

 

Here are some details, pertaining particularly to Secondary School.  Whilst the information mirrors that of Junior School, it is structured and delivered differently to account for adolescent ways of learning.

Attendance and Engagement

Attendance will not be recorded on students’ report cards for the coming semester, however it is vital that we monitor our students’ presence online and engagement with their studies.

  • Teachers will record their students’ online presence in their subject and each week will send a generic email home for that subject
  • If a student is not present online, for two weeks, you will receive a modified absence letter from our attendance officer, asking you to intervene to ensure that your students can and do engage in their learning. If there is illness at home or difficult circumstances – parents and carers will be able to communicate that to the attendance officer.  We intend to share this information but please be patient if we miss something or double up.  There will be no text messages.

Lesson Delivery:

  • Each teacher will be uploading the learning for a full week. Students will be able to manage the time they use to engage with their learning.
  • We will continue to use the Inquiry model to deliver learning, with provocations to stimulate curiosity, learning intentions and success criteria to enable students to self-check their learning.
  • We intend to include a range of ways of learning in each lesson package. There will be information delivery, activities to engage students in learning, opportunities for students to generate work and get teacher feedback, online tools and programs with variety being our tool for engagement.
  • There will be scheduled times when all teachers are present ‘live’ online so that students can virtually interact.
  • Do not expect ‘live video conferencing’ as you have seen on television, or in business. Whilst we have sought and achieved permission to use platforms such as Zoom, there are all sorts of protocols including parental supervision and 18+ limits as well as expertise.  We have investigated this and it is not our starting point for general classes.
  • IB classes in Year 10-12 may operate a little differently to the rest of the school to meet the needs of their curriculum. DP Mel Ellis will release information about this, in the coming days.
  • We are also considering Zoom as a learning tool for groups of secondary students studying instrumental music – if we intend to use this platform, there will be separate permissions sought from you.

 

Monitoring of Learning:

Teachers will engage with students across the week.

  • Student work that is submitted will be stamped indicating that it is received.
  • Drafts and formative pieces will be commented on with either written or recorded feedback with the usual turnaround times. Responses will not be immediate.
  • Parents who have concerns will contact the teacher directly, through existing channels and processes.
  • It is our hope that we can provide face to face opportunities for students to speak with teachers, complete experiments – all dependent upon the social distance and the restrictions that are in place next term.

Assessment:

How we collect evidence of student learning will be different when compared with a face to face class.  We will collect student samples over time, use Education Perfect quizzes, open book exams, written student responses.  There are many ways to assess a little differently to the usual format.

  • An assessment planner in week 2 will provide some information about timing throughout the term. We cannot provide definitive answers until we have a better idea of how school will be experienced and for how long we are online.
  • As usual, weeks 6 and 7 will be formative assessment weeks
  • There will be assignments given and collected with drafts due
  • IB students will continue their Internal Assessment items