Online learning: Full speed ahead

Full speed ahead

Dock’s extensive experience with online learning platforms meant that teachers and students didn’t miss a beat during the quarantine—creating a much-needed sense of normalcy during a time that was anything but normal.

Whether online or on campus, Dock’s educational philosophy for every age is built on fostering curiosity, The sudden shift to online learning gave new meaning to the term, “screen sharing,” and while it was not without a few speedbumps, Dock parents gave the school high overall marks for facilitating a smooth transition. Read more in our Online Learning Report Card.

creativity, wonder, inquiry, collaboration, deep thinking, and a desire to continue learning throughout life, in and out of the classroom.

“Education is built on relationships. We believe education is built on relationships, so we value face-to-face learning and knowing In times when physical proximity is not our students individually. In times like these when physical proximity is not possible, Dock possible, we work to provide that same faculty and staff work to provide that same kind of connection through online platforms. connection through online platforms.” “Students respond best when they can see their teacher’s face and hear their voice, so we made that happen remotely,” said Dr. Sharon Fransen, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction. “We provided authentic academic experiences centered on our curriculum, but it was also important for students to know that their teachers love and care for them. We wanted them to feel that compassion and care even though they were not in the same room.”

Having used Cyber Days for five years now, Dock students, families, and faculty were already experienced in adapting their current curriculum to a fully online platform for a day or two at a time. This experience gave our school community a foundational understanding of how to use technology tools like Schoology to meet our academic expectations and hit the ground running with the online learning experience. Because we know the basics, we have been able to introduce more tools quickly to create enhanced learning experiences for our students.

We have a responsibility to help our students continue to learn during difficult days, but we also know that school—continuing to interact with their teachers and friends—provides an important sense of normalcy and reassurance for them. “Dock has always placed a high value on the community we create on both of our campuses

ONLINE LEARNING REPORT CARD

every day,” said Dr. Fransen. “That sense of community has never been more important than it is now.”

DOCK’S ONLINE LEARNING TOOLKIT

• Schoology is a learning management system that connects teachers, students, and parents to all the content and other information related to a classroom or course—assignments, videos, newsletters, lessons, discussions. Through integrated video conferences, it extends the face-to-face experiences of the physical classroom to the virtual world. Dock has been using Schoology since 2014.

• Flipgrid allows learners to reflect upon, discuss and showcase what they are learning.

• Screencast-o-matic allows teachers to create and share videos of direct instruction.

• Edpuzzle helps teachers create interactive video lessons by adding voice narration, text, and other elements.

WHAT IF?

Governor Tom Wolfe ordered Pennsylvania schools to close on March 13, an order that ultimately was extended through the end of the school year. The following was posted anonymously online to address concerns about losing classroom education time. Thanks to virtual classrooms, Dock did not miss any school days, yet the sentiment of this piece resonates with many in our school community. • What if, instead of falling “behind,” this group of students are ADVANCED because of quarantine? • What if they have more empathy, they enjoy family connection, they can be more creative and entertain themselves, they love to read, they love to express themselves in writing. �� • What if they enjoy the simple things, like their own backyard and sitting near a window in the quiet? • What if they notice the birds and the dates the different flowers emerge, and the calming renewal of a gentle rain shower? • What if this generation of students are the ones to learn to cook, organize their space, do their laundry, and keep a well-run home? • What if they learn to stretch a dollar and to live with less? • What if they learn to plan shopping trips and meals at home? • What if they learn the value of eating together as a family and finding the good to share in the small delights of the everyday? • What if they are the ones to place great value on our teachers and education professionals, librarians, public servants and the previously invisible essential support workers like truck drivers and logisticians, grocers, cashiers, custodians, and healthcare workers and their supporting staff, just to name a few of the millions who took care of us while we were sheltered in place? • What if, among these children, a great leader emerges who had the benefit of a slower pace and a simpler life to truly learn what really matters in this life? • What if we all came together to teach the world? What if everyone learned at their own pace and wasn’t compared to other students? • What if these students are AHEAD?