Klingshare:#3 - Notes from "Learning from Schools In Asia" Webinar re COVID-19, Klingenstein Center

KLINGSHARE:#3 WEBINAR - APRIL 1, 2020 LEARNING FROM SCHOOLS IN ASIA KlingShare:#3 provids key takeaways and advice from Learning from Schools in Asia, a webinar featuring a panel of Klingenstein alumni from schools in Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong sharing advice for schools transitioning to online classes during COVID-19. The panelists were Karrie Dietz, Head of School, Stamford American School, Hong Kong; John Yi Liu, Regional Coordinator of University and Career Guidance, Yew Chung International School of Shanghai & Yew Chung Foundation; Kelli Sanchez, Dean of Students, Keystone Academy, Beijing; Chris Wilcox, Deputy Principal of Pastoral/Head of University and Careers Counselling, The Western International School of Shanghai. These schools had been online for 7-9 weeks at the time of the webinar.

VIDEO RECORDING OF THE WEBINAR

A recording of the webinar is available at http://tiny.cc/webinar4-1-20 ADVICE FROM THE PANELISTS

Plan for online teaching & learning Slow down. Keep it simple. Focus on the most important content.

Be willing to make adjustments, change schedules, slow the pace, modify expectations, and make accommodations to best fit the circumstances.

Give parents and students clear channels to get information and provide feedback.

Continue to teach in the schools' timezone, for schools with scattered populations.

Incorporate wellness time for students to connect with their teachers.

Combine live online lessons with downloadable content.

Be mindful of screentime and don't expect students to spend as many hours online as they would have spent in the classroom in person.

Mail packets, hardcopy materials, and supplies to students as a "care package” or “learning package.” Consider what families with limited resources might need.

Recognize that teachers can’t replicate all classroom activities online.

Group teachers into teams to support each other and work together to select the most important content to cover.

Vary the structures and types of assignment to avoid overwhelming students with too much material or monotony.

Continue selected traditions and activities from school at home. Reflect on which elements of school life are important to amplify and recreate (e.g. assemblies, special projects, capstone experiences, spirit weeks).

KlingShare:#3 | Klingenstein Center, Teachers College, Columbia University | klingensteincenter.org

KlingShare:#3 | Page 2 ADVICE FROM THE PANELISTS - CONTINUED

Create and sustain a sense of normalcy Help students and families to set up schedules and daily routines that are similar to their normal school routine.

Host webinars for families on supporting their child’s wellbeing.

Maintain structure and routine for faculty and staff (e.g. faculty meetings) while allowing for flexibility and change as the situation develops.

Practice empathy and transparency Be honest, open, and understanding of the situation at hand and possible responses.

Take time as a community to recognize emotions of grief, loss, and fear.

Collaborate beyond your classrooms.

Connect to fellow teachers and staff members, as well as community stakeholders Consider networking with local colleges, public schools, and other organizations.

Use social media to connect with a larger network of educators to share ideas.

Organize workshops for parents that resonate with student curriculum and themes.

Provide opportunities for parents to connect with each other.

Adjust assessments and grading policies.

Think about and try new ways of assessing student progress outside of standard testing. Consider project-based assignments and informal assessments.

Provide opportunities for student feedback and peer reflection.

Be strategic about how many graded assessments are given and how much feedback students can process.

Determine how to provide progress reports, report card grades or other feedback for students who are unable to participate in classes regularly. Consider the ways that the year will be viewed in the students' future academic endeavors.

Support teachers and staff Provide flexible work locations if your local conditions and regulations allow.

Check in with teachers through regular meetings and discuss strategies for health and well-being.

Be mindful of the distribution, real and perceived, of work among staff members.

Publicly recognize the contribution those working at all levels of the organization.

Plan for the future Create virtual equivalents of admissions events like presentations and virtual tours, or “open houses” for families currently in the enrollment or re-enrollment process.

Be transparent about hiring and contracts for current and newly-hired staff.

Monitor carefully student re-enrollment and spending throughout the year.

Use this experience as an opportunity to “learn on the ground” and develop an action plan for future situations that might physically restrict schools from meeting.

Consider your reopening plan with thoughts toward rebuilding culture and community, re-integrating students, teachers and staff, and supporting those who have been personally impacted by the virus, and so forth. Name the lingering fears or concerns community members may have experienced.

Sustain yourself in ways that feed your energy and increase your sense of wellbeing.

KlingShare:#3 | Klingenstein Center, Teachers College, Columbia University | klingensteincenter.org