In the ever-evolving landscape of education, the transition to virtual teaching has presented both challenges and opportunities. COVID pushed education beyond its expectations into a world of virtual learning. Some children thrived but many didn’t. However, now snow days are turned into FID or Flexible Instruction Day.
As a dedicated teacher who values resilience, empathy, and inclusivity, my recent experience of teaching a FID has been nothing short of transformative. Jason has a FID, but they are not online so he was available to help me with the technical end of being online. The teachers send him work through email and google classroom. The fact that he didn’t have to be online worked to our advantage. Jason could help me and not worry about being online at the same time. Here, I’d like to share our journey and the valuable lessons I have learned along the way.
Embracing Change
When the decision was made to shift our classes virtual learning due to an impending snow and ice storm, I jumped into action. Like everything, preparation is key. Preparation reduces stress, but I still felt anxious how everything would work out. I knew we had to adapt our teaching methods to ensure our students continued to receive the best education possible. I planned out as much as possible – probably over planned. We use Microsoft Teams now so I set up a link plus tested it several times In 2020, we used Zoom and I had a full time assistant. Now, I don’t have a full time assistant. Like when we had the Covid shut down, my primary goal was to create an engaging and interactive learning environment, even from a distance. This meant rethinking our lesson plans, exploring new technologies, and finding creative ways to keep mh students motivated.
Virtual learning Building Connections
I felt happy that most of my students came online for virtual learning. My attendant did my hair nicely before bed, and somehow it stayed during the night, I wore pajamas that looked like a sweatshirt because I can’t dress myself. Everything was setup, and I woke up Jason to help me prop my iPad up and he hit the admit button for students. It was very nice of him to help me.
One of the biggest challenges during Covid we faced was maintaining a sense of community in a virtual setting. To overcome this, I made it a priority to foster strong connections with my students. We scheduled regular check-ins, encouraged open communication, and created virtual spaces where students could collaborate and share their thoughts. By showing empathy and understanding, we were able to build a supportive and inclusive online classroom. Having a good relationship with students helps make teaching easier because they know that the teacher cares.
Innovative Teaching Methods
Innovation became our guiding principle. I experimented with various tools and techniques to enhance our virtual lessons. From interactive quizzes and polls to virtual breakout rooms and collaborative projects, we kept our students actively engaged. We also incorporated multimedia elements, such as videos and animations, to make our lessons more dynamic and visually appealing. I also like using virtual field trips.
Overcoming Obstacles
Of course, the virtual learning journey wasn’t without its hurdles. I have a speech impediment so I’m nervous students will not understand me and parents will complain. To my surprise, I had no problem with students understanding me. Technical issues, screen fatigue, and distractions at home were common challenges that both we and our students had to navigate. I approached these obstacles with patience and a problem-solving mindset. We provided technical support, introduced regular breaks, and offered tips on creating a conducive learning environment at home.
Celebrating Successes
Despite the challenges, there were numerous moments of triumph during Covid online learning and FID days. Watching mu students adapt to the virtual format, actively participate in discussions, and achieve their academic goals was incredibly rewarding. Each success, no matter how small, reinforced our belief in the power of resilience and the importance of adaptability. I had them intrigued that I wasn’t in my wheelchair and they laughed when my iPad fell.
Reflection and Growth
Our journey of teaching virtual learning has been a profound experience. It has taught us the value of flexibility, the importance of staying connected, and the incredible potential of technology in education. As we continue to navigate this new era of teaching, we remain committed to our mission of providing a supportive and enriching learning experience for all our students. I do think we all appreciate a good snow day. I also applaud parents helping their children stay focused online.
Through this blog, I hope to inspire fellow educators to embrace the challenges and opportunities of virtual teaching. Together, we can create a brighter future for our students, no matter where the classroom is located.
