COVID-19 changed every aspect of life as we knew it. With the onset of this pandemic, every organization had to begin to conduct business in a completely different manner. Schools at all levels, K-12 and Higher Education, were some of the hardest hit as it pertains to how students would continue to learn while staying safe. Both educational institutions and students had to begin an immediate shift to teaching and learning online.
You are going to act as an administrator in a school that is moving to an all-virtual setting, something that requires you to make changes to your daily operations. As this administrator, you are to develop and discuss your plan for how you will mitigate any impacts that this new policy will have on the operations of your educational institution. If your focus is K-12 you will be using Google Classroom, and if your focus is Higher Education you will be using Canvas.
Plan the process for learning to continue in a virtual setting, including how your school will track attendance, facilitate collaborative class time, and assess student learning.
How will you ensure that students are attending and participating in class?
How will you ensure that students and teachers/faculty have meaningful interactions and collaboration?
How will you track and report on student performance in the virtual setting?
Plan the process to use to complete teacher/professor observations including frequency and post-observation sessions.
Plan an information session to share your virtual learning plan including training and mitigation strategies for all stakeholders. Stakeholders could include:
Faculty.
Staff.
Students.
Parents.
Community Business Partners.
Use three sources to support your writing. Choose sources that are credible, relevant, and appropriate. Cite each source listed on your source page at least one time within your assignment.
Full Answer Section
**2. ** Technology: The school will need to ensure that all students have access to the technology they need to participate in virtual learning. This includes computers, internet access, and any other necessary software. The school may also need to provide training on how to use the technology.
**3. ** Curriculum: The school will need to adapt its curriculum to the virtual setting. This may involve creating more self-paced lessons, providing more opportunities for student interaction, and using online resources.
**4. ** Assessment: The school will need to develop new methods for assessing student learning in the virtual setting. This may involve using online quizzes and tests, projects, or portfolios.
**5. ** Support: The school will need to provide support to students and families who may need it. This may include providing tutoring, counseling, or other resources.
Here are some specific ideas for how to ensure that students are attending and participating in class, having meaningful interactions and collaboration with teachers/faculty, and tracking and reporting on student performance in the virtual setting:
Attendance:
- Use a tool like Google Classroom or Canvas to track attendance.
- Send reminders to students who are absent.
- Offer incentives for students who attend class regularly.
Participation:
- Use online discussion boards and forums to encourage student participation.
- Create group projects that require students to collaborate with each other.
- Use video conferencing tools to hold virtual office hours.
Interactions and collaboration:
- Create opportunities for students to interact with each other outside of class.
- Use online tools like Zoom or Google Meet to hold virtual classroom discussions.
- Provide opportunities for students to work on projects together.
Performance:
- Use online quizzes and tests to assess student learning.
- Create projects and assignments that require students to apply their knowledge.
- Provide regular feedback to students on their work.
By following these steps, schools can mitigate the impacts of moving to an all-virtual setting and ensure that students continue to learn and succeed.
In addition to the above, here are some other things that schools can do to support students in the virtual setting:
- Provide flexible learning options, such as asynchronous classes and self-paced learning.
- Offer tutoring and other support services to students who need it.
- Build relationships with students and families to stay connected and provide support.
- Be flexible and adaptable as the situation changes.
By taking these steps, schools can help students succeed in the virtual setting.