The Evidence Institute’s exclusive report presents insightful findings from four diverse schools on the challenges and successes of navigating teaching and learning in a post-pandemic world.
What flexible and accessible approaches promote student agency and wellbeing during, and beyond, periods of remote learning?
The Nature School, Coffs Harbour.
The past two years have presented significant challenges for all school communities. Despite this, we have observed tremendous resilience and optimism throughout the Independent sector. Schools have seamlessly, and on very short notice, moved in and out of remote learning. They have rearranged spaces and adapted their teaching practices to ensure social distancing. Flexibility has been required as educators work to engage students and families in events that mark milestone moments throughout the school calendar including camps, exams, and graduation ceremonies.
Al Noori Muslim School, Greenacre, Sydney
As 2021 is coming to a close and as NSW Independent schools look to the future, we will continue to experience the uncertainty of lockdowns. We will also continue to navigate the challenges which accompany periods of remote learning, face-to-face teaching, and potentially a combination of both.
In this environment, it is timely that The Evidence Institute publishes the findings of the Digital Learning Practices during Remote Learning and Beyond report. This timely report brings together insights previously shared through each of the Digital Learning Practices Case Studies. These key findings and recommendations come at a crucial time as schools transition back to on-campus learning. Each school offers thoughtful approaches to practice that can be considered by all schools.
The four NSW independent schools featured in the case studies and report include:
- Al Noori Muslim School, Greenacre, Sydney
- Meriden School for Girls, Strathfield, Sydney
- St Philip's Christian College DALE and DALE Young Parents, Waratah, Sydney.
- The Nature School, Coffs Harbour.
St Philip's Christian College DALE and DALE Young Parents, Waratah, Sydney.
Highlights and themes from the Digital Learning Practices during Remote Learning and Beyond report
Building on the insights shared by four diverse NSW independent schools as part of our Digital Learning Practices - Case Study Series, this report presents insights relating to:
- factors affecting remote teaching practices
- effective digital practices
- practices to support student inclusion
- approaches to support teacher and student wellbeing.
Meriden School for Girls, Strathfield, Sydney.
While all case schools emphasised that their unique ethos was key to the nuanced and context-specific decision-making during remote teaching, four overarching themes emerged.
- Wellbeing – including a fundamental commitment to wellbeing for staff, students and their families.
- Blended learning approaches – including a focus on more independent, student-centred learning tasks.
- Explicit teaching – including the investment in creation of new media resources to succinctly communicate key ideas and explanations.
- Inclusive strategies – including the use of a range of strategies to support students experiencing disadvantage or access issues.
We are optimistic that the insights and recommendations outlined in this report will positively contribute to how other schools plan to emerge from the constraints and shifts brought about by the pandemic. We believe the lessons learned have the potential to significantly impact schools and their communities as they navigate the future.
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