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Approach to Virtual Learning at ISF
Approach to Virtual Learning at ISF
Virtual Learning at ISF is designed to ensure continuity of learning and continued progress toward established learning goals for all of our students.
Virtual learning is not a replication of the traditional school day. Teachers will practice and experiment with new teaching methods to provide content and effective feedback that supports student learning and growth.
Modified schedules and class assignments will be created and communicated by teachers using the online applications that ISF students are already familiar with such as Toddle (Early Years-G5) and Google Gmail and Classroom (G3-G12). Teachers will do their best to provide all the required resources in an online format.
Teachers and specialists will be available to support students and answer questions throughout the school day via email or during live lessons. While Virtual Learning is not always constructed to require synchronous (real-time, live) participation, teachers and specialists may choose to design some synchronous activities in which students can participate, such as a class video lesson on Google Meet or an online chat in Google Hangout. Synchronous, live lessons are mostly the norm in Upper School.
Wellbeing - that of students and teachers - is of primary concern. We have learned that students can suffer from a range of wellbeing issues during long absences from the social and emotional support and contact enjoyed at school. This can range from feelings of isolation to more serious concerns.
Please contact the Vice Principals for Student Wellbeing in Junior (k.dean@isfitaly.org) or Upper School (i.szablinski@isfitaly.org) or any member of staff you know and are comfortable to talk with should you have any wellbeing concerns.Teachers also suffer from long periods in virtual learning. Teaching is essentially a highly social activity that depends on positive relationships with students. This is far more difficult to achieve in VL and stressful for teachers and students.
It is also exhausting to be on line most of the day. Please respect teacher time after normal working hours. The Principals and Vice Principals are the best people to contact after the school day and they will always endeavour to respond as soon as possible to an URGENT call.
At Home Requirements
At Home Requirements
In general, students will need:
A computer and reliable internet access
Login credentials for all school-issued digital tools
A dedicated place to focus on their learning
Breaks & opportunities for social engagement and physical activity away from a screen (as they would have in school!)
Adult support - this may include providing quiet time or structure to the day, general encouragement, etc.
To communicate questions or challenges directly to teachers and specialists
PLEASE CONTACT THE IT COORDINATOR, RICCARDO BIAGIOTTI IF YOU HAVE ANY DIFFICULTIES WITH DEVICES OR CONNECTIVITY
General Expectations for Student Engagement and Participation
General Expectations for Student Engagement and Participation
Students are expected to participate in Virtual Learning. Virtual Learning days will count as student contact days; students are simply learning in a different location.
While parents may be expected to assist in the management of the learning process by providing a space for learning and an internet connection at home, parents are not expected to be placed in the role of teacher; in most cases, students should be able to independently carry out the tasks assigned by teachers.
Students are not expected to sit at the computer all day long, but rather to follow the instructions set by their teachers to complete the work assigned to them.
Students are expected to demonstrate learning as indicated by their teacher's instructions. This may include, but is not limited to, making comments on a Toddle or Google Classroom post, emailing a completed document, or uploading a recorded activity.
Learning can occur online or offline. For example, reading, exercising, drawing, playing, constructing, or writing are perfectly acceptable virtual learning day tasks that can be documented through photographs, videos, or typed reports and turned in digitally.
At the Junior School
At the Junior School
The needs and learning requirements of children in Junior School will be very different from a normal on campus, classroom based lesson, and different between the early years and Grade 5 for example.
Teachers in Junior School will provide an on and offline sequence of lessons during the day appropriate to the age and maturity of the children.
TODDLE will be used as the platform for Junior School for all VL needs. Please access this link for details: JS Virtual Learning Plan for parents
Students will need either a tablet or a desktop computer to successfully access our Virtual Learning programme. Tablet users will need to install the free apps Toddle Student and Zoom.
At the Upper School,
At the Upper School,
Students should expect to adhere to the lessons published for their normal timetable for either Weeks 1 and 2.
Most lessons will be synchronous and online as per the timetable.
A Google Meet code will be posted on Google Classroom and attendance taken for each lesson. Any missed lessons should be notified to the teacher as soon a possible as teachers are advised to contact students and parents for any absences. This is a wellbeing concern as much as one of missed learning.
Some lessons will be classed as IW - Independent Work. During IW the teacher will set work to be completed either offline or using resources posted on Classroom. Students will be asked to check in at the start of IW lessons and register attendance.
Teachers will advise students when a lesson is live online, IW, or provide a check-in time via Google Classroom.
Assignment deadlines will also be set via Classroom.
Assessments and grades will increasingly be available for parents to track on the MANAGEBAC platform.Teachers are advised to provide a balance of online, offline and IW lessons during the day and short breaks of 5 minutes between each 40 minute lesson.
Double lessons (80 minutes) should have a suitable rest break in the middle of at least 10 minutes.
PE lessons are particularly problematical during VL . Students will be provided with a range of physical activities they can participate in regardless of the space available. As the full time for PE is unlikely to be used (2 rather 3 hours in short sequences for example), at least one hour may be available for students to use as a study period - catching up on work or continuing with projects (to be confirmed).
Students are encouraged to exercise, stand, stretch, take fresh air as often a possible. Further guidance from the PE and Wellbeing staff will be provided.
Homework should be minimal during VL, with most work completed during the lesson times.
Students in Grades 11 and 12 will have a different pattern of work and homework due to the course requirements of this highly academic programme.
Follow and share examples of Virtual Learning at ISF at #isfvirtuallearning
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