Distance learning working…so far

Edgar Middle School mathematics teacher Katie Haas said Friday the switch from traditional classroom instruction to distance learning has been “very, very positive” as the school deals with the coronavirus pandemic.

Haas, who teaches math to sixth and seventh graders, said she uses Screencastify to make video recordings of her classes which she broadcasts daily at 8 a.m. to her students.

The videos are uploaded with Edpuzzle to the web. Students watch the videos, she said, and contact her in “office hours” about questions they have. Haas said students are able to do their math school work according to their own schedule, not according to any rigid school schedule.

“Some of my students have to take care of younger kids and adults sometimes need to use the family computer during the day,” she said. “So, students can do their math at a different time. They have all day to get it done.”

Haas said computers on the school side of things and on the student side of things have worked well.

“Some students take longer to load videos than others, but there haven’t been any glitches,” she said. “Things have been really positive so far.”

Haas said her 91 students have nearly universal computer access. She said some students prefer access to class videos on mom’s computer system over dad’s, but that she has not had to worry about a student not having any access to the internet.

She said some parents purchased internet packages as a response to school closing on March 15.

Haas said distance learning will never be the same as traditional classroom instruction, but added that students seemed motivated to do their math in a home setting.

“The kids seem really excited in the morning to get moving,” she said. “They want to get to their homework by 8:20 a.m. There are more positives than negatives.”

Haas said her math classes are easy to teach over distance learning. Other subjects would be more difficult, she said. “It would be difficult to teach a science class that needs a lab, or a phy ed class that is about team sports or a band class when you can’t play in a full band,” she said.

Haas said Edgar Public School staff is doing what it can to provide a school experience for students when school itself is closed.

“We have to do the best we can,” she said.