Insight: secondary school September 2021∣Youth Hong Kong
Willpower and wellness
a winning combination l The shift from classroom to virtual learning plunged many teachers into uncharted waters.
l 從傳統課堂到虛擬學習，一眾教師踏進了教學生涯的未 知領域。
l This teacher used grit, ingenuity and creativity to make her online teaching effective.
l 老師憑著過人的勇氣、才智和創造力，成為網上教學的 贏家。
l The author writes about the outstanding response of her students to innovation and feedback.
l 通過與其他老師分享想法，運用想像力和科技，筆者的 教學獲得學生正面肯定。
Converting to online learning and managing face-toface teaching in the classroom under Covid restrictions was a big challenge. Resources in the classroom could not be shared. It was quite frustrating at times because all the students had to face the front and so our usual teaching for mixed ability groups was not possible.
Students had their own challenges. I foresee mental health, behaviour and wellbeing issues continuing well into the coming academic year. Ongoing management and support are provided creating all-round awareness so affected students with a high prevalence of anxiety can always find help, even during panic attacks.
Aware of essential wellness The only answer was to create my own teaching materials As a teacher, I appreciate the open-door policy operated by using existing online resources and quiz games to maintain the principal. Any member of staff who needs support may a sense of fun and engagement. I worked in a team of talk in confidence about any problems they experience.. language teachers and we shared tips. After hours of Regular wellbeing sessions are run and we have been creating PowerPoint presentations for online lessons we able to use the local gym also checked each other’s work at reduced rates and do for errors. You couldn’t see meditation classes online. them for looking! I helped The whole process allowed for dialogue some colleagues with online which wouldn’t otherwise have been possible. Personally, I have never platforms and presenting worked so hard in my life as efficiently while developing I have during the pandemic my own techniques. so, taken together, these measures have been both timely and effective and have made a huge difference at a time Expectations far exceeded when we have all been under unprecedented pressure. Many of my students excelled. They responded very positively to my continuous online feedback and I saw learners progress to an extent that could not have happened without intensive marking, returns and feedback. The whole process allowed for dialogue which wouldn’t otherwise have been possible. It was extremely effective and in the coming MBL prefers to use an acronym for her year, I plan to maintain PowerPoint-based teaching. It can name. She is the head of a second language serve to support blended learning in future if needed. teaching department in the UK. 17
