Build While We Fly

I’ve heard a couple of times this week that emergency remote learning due to school closure during the COVID-19 pandemic is “like building a plane while you are flying it”. It’s a great analogy and, for many of us, it has been an extremely fast and bumpy flight so far! I’ve only just recovered from take-off, my seatbelt has barely been unfastened (just finishing week 3)… but these are my somewhat rambling thoughts at this point in time…

Image by Michael Schwarzenberger from Pixabay

Assemble the Cockpit

You don’t have much time, so gather the ESSENTIAL tools that you, as the pilot, need to fly the plane (teach your students) and get up in the air (establish expectations/routines). This really makes you think about what is ABSOLUTELY essential.

1. Our priority has to be maintaining connections with students and doing whatever we can to ensure their well-being in this unsettling time. What are the absolute essentials we need to be able to CONNECT to our students and connect them to each other? We need to keep this part simple. One main platform where students can go to find everything they need. Student well-being has to come first.

2. Second, let go. Strip the curriculum to the bare minimum. Focus on students developing the skills of learning (e.g. IBPYP Approaches to Learning). There will be a multitude of ways that students can be developing their research skills, communication skills, thinking skills, and self-management skills in ways that we would never have imagined! LIFE skills will be learned and developed. (Social skills may have to take a back seat for now…)

3. Academics and content take third place. Yes, third. “Maslow before Bloom” is a much-repeated phrase of late. What are the students going to remember from this time? I guarantee it will not be facts, figures, and algorithms presented to them while at ‘school’. Also, keep focused on what you want students to learn, rather than do (no digital worksheets please!).

Image by Siggy Nowak from Pixabay

The Wings and Tail

Important for keeping the plane in the air and headed in the right direction (keeping the learning going). This is not a Red Arrows flypast. You could be up in the air for weeks. 

1. Pace yourself (and your students). Less is more.

2. Lean into challenges. Even the worst turbulence will pass.

3. Adjust your direction as needed. Be flexible. Be prepared for things to go wrong – it’s OK!

Image by Brent Connelly from Pixabay

Keep Checking the Engine

Never has teacher well-being been so important. If we are to help anyone, we MUST look after ourselves first. A great and honest post here – ‘Good Enough‘ by @klbeasley. Do whatever you need to do to look after your mental health. 

1. Family First. Connect with family and friends whenever, and however, you can. 

2. Breathe deeply, meditate, exercise, get in touch with nature whenever possible.

3. Find an outlet. Clean out those cupboards, start a new hobby, cook, paint, sew, do jigsaw puzzles, or watch Netflix (and don’t feel guilty about that one!).

4. Most importantly, take some time each day to disconnect. Close the laptop, get away from screens, do not check your email. No one is going anywhere (in some places, literally).

Image by Dimitris Vetsikas from Pixabay

Paint it

Make it yours. Make it unique. No two planes will be exactly the same. No two planes will ever take the exact same route. Check out Gary Stager’s article, ‘This is Our Moment‘.

1. Do the best you can and do NOT compare yourself to anyone else.

2. There are thousands of educators worldwide struggling with this – it is NOT what we signed up for and there is no magic formula to make it easier or make it work perfectly.

3. Keep working together in teaching teams. Support each other. Understand that everyone will want to paint using their own colours. Let them.

And remember: We WILL land safely when all this is over.

#COVID19 #remotelearning