Online Distance Learning Program
School Year 2020-2021
Boracay European International School (BEIS) acknowledges that the current Covid-19 pandemic has presented many challenges, creating fears and building uncertainties around the world for what’s ahead.
However, we hold strong the belief that no matter what, learning must go ahead regardless of the constraints we face.
When we were informed of the sudden closure of schools in the Philippines in March we were already prepared for this possibility and we were able to organize and create online classes ensuring that our students did not miss one day of lessons.
Through online distance education we were able to fulfill our School Mission “to provide excellent education in English and give our children scope and motivation for their personal and academic development.”
Unlike many other schools on the island we have had the time to learn from our online experiences and tailor our program to better suit our students, parents and teachers. We anticipate that there may be no physical face to face classes for some time but there is also a chance that we may be chosen as a pilot school to introduce a mixture of online and face to face classes before then.
The purpose of this section is to present how BEIS will offer quality education through online distance learning for this school year.
Organisation
A structured timetable is one where learners can focus on learning, manage tasks effectively, and at the same time enjoy. In a structured learning environment, learners thrive and experience personal and academic growth.
The length of the school day and the duration of each session have been carefully thought through to consider the amount of screen time that is safe for the learner, their attention span, and the learners individual needs and learning preferences.
The school day is split into 2 different modes of learning:
1. SYNCHRONOUS LEARNING
Real time lessons and discussions
We can think in terms of Asynchronous meaning ‘WE DO.’ This is where the teacher delivers instruction and concepts or demonstrates skills, assists the students with learning experiences and creates meaningful interaction.
2. ASYNCHRONOUS LEARNING
Activities & Projects
We can think of Asynchronous meaning ‘I DO.’ This is any activity designed by the teacher that can be done by the student at their own pace. During Asynchronous learning the teacher may still be available online, either face to face or via online chat to assist students as and when needed.
Below is a table to show the daily duration by grades:
LEVEL | SYNCHRONOUS | ASYNCHRONOUS | TOTAL NUMBER OF SCHOOL HOURS (with breaks) |
Nursery | 45 mins | 1 hour 15 mins | 2 hours |
Kindergarten 1 | 1 hour 15 mins | 1 hour 30 mins | 3 hours |
Kindergarten 2 to Gr 1 | 2 hours | 2 hours | 5 hours |
Grade 2 to 4 | 3 hours | 2 hours 15 mins | 6 hours 15 mins |
Grade 5 to Grade 8 | 3 hours 15 mins | 3 hours | 7 hours 15 mins |
A 3rd category will also be available for some grades known as a HOMEROOM WELL-BEING CHECK. This will be used to keep students notified of any updates and to ensure students well-being
Electives
There will be specific online electives offered. As in a regular school year most of these will be included in the regular school fees (if conducted by BEIS teachers) and some may incur an additional charge either for the purchase of specific resources or due to non BEIS specialists overseeing classes. Electives won’t take place until week 3.
Learning Management Platforms and Suggested Gadgets
It is important that the students have a reliable gadget for online lessons able to access emails, online platforms and to download word files. Below are the suggested gadgets and the online platforms that we will be using to assist with our lessons. All gadgets will need a working camera, microphone and speakers.
LEVEL | PLATFORMS | SUGGESTED GADGETS |
Kinder 1 to Grade 1 | Zoom Seesaw & Vooks | PC or Laptop, tablet, wired earphones |
Grade 2 to 3 | Zoom, Seesaw, Google Classroom, Google Slides, Google Forms, Vooks | PC or Laptop, tablet, wired earphones |
Grade 4 to 5 | Zoom, Google Classroom, Google Slides, Google Forms, Storyboard that | PC or Laptop, tablet, wired earphones |
Grade 6 to 8 | Zoom, Google Meet, Google Classroom, Google Slides, google forms, Storyboard that | PC or Laptop, tablet, mobile phone, wired earphones |
Roles and Responsibilities
For learning to successfully take place, whether in a school setting or in an online learning platform, learners, teachers and parents must work together. Each individual has a definite and important role to play. These roles and responsibilities will serve as a guide for everyone to ensure that learning will happen across distance and beyond screens. Learners will be able to adapt more easily to the new structure and will be successful with learning if they receive strong support from their parents and teachers.
In general these are the expectations for the students, teachers and parents/guardians:
Students
- Regularly attend classes.
- Establish a daily routine as you would on a normal school day.
- Follow virtual classroom rules.*
- Wear appropriate clothing. Remember all of your online classes are monitored by your teachers.
- Communicate with your teachers if you have questions or concerns, during lesson times, even if you are not having face time.
- Complete all tasks given to you.
- Do your best to complete your work in the allotted time frames. This means that you will have more free time after the school day ends.
- Communicate with your teachers if you are having difficulty with the assigned tasks.
- Don’t let assignments pile up and end up having to complete them in the evenings and at weekends.
Parents, Guardians or Trusted Adults
- Help your child to follow and maintain routines during learning sessions whether online or self-paced.
- Follow the timetable provided that is designed to support your child in completing their learning tasks.
- For parents of younger learners, be sure to help your child by opening the device and assisting them with whatever needs they have.
- Use the lunch break to allow your child to rest.
- Let your child try to answer their assignments on their own.
- Liaise with your teacher if you feel your child is unable to keep up with the work set.
Teachers
- Plan lessons that are relevant and appropriate to the online learning environment.
- Prepare appropriate handouts and materials and make them available to the learners in a timely manner.
- Check on learners who have connectivity problems or are having difficulty accessing online work.
- Be responsive to the queries and concerns of both learners and parents.
- Ensure that assignments are assessed regularly and feedback is given.
- If students fall behind ensure that parents are informed of this in a timely manner.
Preparation for Learning Environment - Parents, Guardians & Trusted Adults
Try to allot an area of the house to be used as a “learning space.” This can be any space to work and store material that will not be disrupted within the duration of the online learning. The learning space should include a chair and desk (table.) Students should not receive lessons lying/sitting on their bed or relaxing on the sofa. For younger students the work area could be an open flat floor space where they can sit and move about on during their lessons.
Learners should still be monitored when learning online whenever possible. As generally students from grades 4 and above can work without adult supervision consider having a dedicated time daily where a parent or trusted adult can be present to monitor and ensure the student is staying on task and working on their assignments.
Ensure that your child has the relevant resources on hand. As well as completing assignments electronically students will still need to use pens, pencils, rulers, scissors etc. for work completed in their notebooks or during art classes.
Ensure there is time in the day for students to exercise, have social opportunities with family members and take brain breaks.
Virtual Classroom Rules
- Prepare yourself before the virtual classroom starts.
- Find a comfortable spot to learn at. It is best to keep your device on a flat surface (desk/table).
- Make sure your device is plugged in or fully charged.
- If it is a pen and paper lesson ensure you have your notebook ready as well as your pens, rulers…etc
- Get ready to learn and be patient if there are any technical problems.
- Listen carefully to your teacher and if you have any questions raise your hand.
- Follow instructions and mute or unmute your microphone if the teacher requests it.
- Even though we are not in the classroom, all of the classroom rules still apply.
- Do your best!
Participation - Parents, Guardians & Trusted Adults
Is there a need for parents to saty with children during online classes?
Nursery to Grade 2 | We recommend that learners should be guided by their parents, guardian, tutor or any trusted adult |
Grades 3 to 4 | Parental supervision and monitoring are encouraged but not required |
Grade 5-8 | No supervision needed |
FAQs
What if we have more than one child enrolled at BEIS. How do we manage the sharing and use of gadgets?
Ideally each child should have a gadget for learning purposes. It will be hard to get them to share a gadget because inevitably there will be an overlap in the times they need to be online.
If my child experiences difficulty completing assigned tasks or navigating the online platforms what do I do?
Ask the teacher for assistance by message, email or call, or ask questions directly to the teacher during Zoom calls. If the teacher is unavailable as they are already in class then please contact the school office directly.
What if there is a brownout or the internet is down in my area?
For all online classes resources and instructions will be sent beforehand so students can work on their assignments independently. It is also possible for instructions for each week to be picked up at the school
Can I request online tutorial sessions?
Yes, these can be arranged for after regular teaching hours. The same request procedure and rates apply as last year.
Are there other resources that may help my child
As well as notebooks and online assignments printed materials will be available for students to work on. These can be printed directly, picked up from school or dropped off at specific pick up points on the island.
What happens if my child falls behind with their assignments?
Teachers will be checking in daily with learners. If students fall behind with their work parents will be notified. In extreme cases where students are still falling behind even with parental intervention the homeroom/subject teacher may have to do a home visit. In such extreme cases social distancing protocol will be observed.
If you have any additional questions please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s homeroom teacher or the school office.