Throughout the nation and here at home, school districts had to turn to the virtual world to bring classrooms to students during the COVID pandemic that raged on for more than 15 months.
That meant students had to log in to computers and iPads from home to receive lessons from their teachers. It took some time to get the technology working properly for most school districts and some did not do so well. Much of the success was tied to how advanced each district was technologically and, unfortunately, whether the students could afford the technology, which involved internet access and a device.
The State of Illinois stepped in to assist many financially strapped districts to provide devices and internet access to those who could not afford it.
While all students in Illinois and in other parts of the country are physically back in the classrooms, school officials still see advantages to having the technology in place.
Snow days, for example, may now be a thing of the past for many school districts. Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202 is already exploring this option.
Associate Supt. Glenn Wood outlined the district’s “E-Learning Day” plan at the Board of Education’s September 27 regular meeting. The plan may be used when school is closed because of emergency or bad weather.
District 202 had been slowly building its e-learning program before the pandemic shut down schools in March 2020. That work quickly accelerated in spring and summer 2020 as the district transitioned incrementally back to in-person learning in fall 2020 and winter and spring 2021.
Now, e-learning is a normal part of the educational package, Wood said.
“In this computer and Internet-driven age, there is no reason why we can’t continue instruction at home when schools have to be closed,” he said.
Under District 202’s e-learning plan, students would get either “synchronous” and “asynchronous” learning or both through their Google Classrooms, depending on the circumstances of the school closure.
“Synchronous” learning is teacher-led instruction over the Internet. Under “asynchronous” instruction, students work independently on assignments posted online.
In all cases students would receive at least five clock hours per day of instruction and schoolwork per current state requirements.
As well, e-learning will mean the district will no longer have to make up “emergency days” at the end of the school year to meet state attendance requirements.
The Board of Education also directed staff to develop a plan to provide synchronous instruction for students who are excluded or quarantined from school.
Meanwhile, Joliet Public Schools District 86 is using ClassLink, a single sign-on platform that will allow teachers and students to use one username and password to access everything they need. Single sign-on is an essential tool for productive remote learning, and ClassLink will serve as your child’s homebase for education, whether it’s in the classroom or on the couch at home. ClassLink can be accessed from either a computer or mobile device.
More information is available at Joliet86.org.
Valley View School District 365U provided numerous laptops and computers to students and families during the pandemic and continues to use technology whenever needed to provide lessons when necessary and information to families as well. District officials also continuously update stakeholders on COVID 19 statistics in the region and inform families of all vaccination efforts and mask mandates.
“We’re finding ways to continuously adapt and that goes for both in the classroom and special events,” Supt. Rachel Kinder said at school board meeting held Monday.
The district is even pairing up with the Will County Health Department and other area health facilities to offer vaccination clinics. Two are scheduled from 10 am to 2 pm at the Valley View School District Administration Center.
More information is at vvsd.org.