What is Distance Learning?
Distance learning refers to an organized program of instruction where we, the teachers, and you, the learners, are physically apart.
What is Distance Learning in PISD?
Our Online Distance Learning curriculum is designed to effectively replace traditional face to face classroom instruction to provide continuity of education in this time of COVID19.
We shall use G Suite for Education in preparing and delivering online classes. To know more about G Suite for Education, you may visit their official site here.
The school, with the consent of your parents, shall provide and manage a G Suite for Education account for you. This Consent should have been sent to your parent’s registered email address after enrollment.
Once we have created your account, we will send you your log in information via email. You will use this to access your G Suite account and Google’s productivity tools including Gmail, Calendar, Docs, Classroom and more.
To learn how to log in to your account, click here.
How will we conduct our daily classes?
Synchronous: Live Group / Clustered Instruction
When we have LIVE classes, you get to see your teachers and your classmates through video conferencing like Google Meet or Zoom.
For instance, if you are scheduled to have a LIVE class in Filipino 8 at 9:30 on Monday, go to your classroom and click the link to the LIVE class your teacher will post in your class stream. It looks pretty much like either of these:
or
LIVE instruction may also be done individually or in small groups. You may request help by making appointments with your teachers during their daily consultation time. You can make appointments by messaging your teachers via Google Chat.
Asynchronous: Self-paced instruction
We will not do LIVE classes in all subjects everyday. Sometimes, you will have to do your work on your own. This is what we call SELF PACED instruction.
During asynchronous time, you will visit your classes in Google classroom and accomplish / perform the activities uploaded by your teachers. You can access our Google Shared Drives and download your class materials, including your teachers’ pre recorded videos and podcasts, for you to view in your own gadgets anytime.
To learn more about how to use Google Classroom, click here.
If you have little to no internet connection, you may message your teacher to make arrangements for alternative tasks and/or teaching delivery.
What tech gadgets do you have to prepare?
A laptop or desktop computer would be best. Having one would allow you to comfortably navigate multiple tabs or browsers at the same time. However, you may still actively engage in Google Classroom using your smart phone or tablet computer (tab / iPad). You would also need a good set of earphones with microphones and a webcam (if your laptop doesn’t have a built in camera yet).
You can have a small shelf in your study area where you can place all your textbooks and other school materials (like pens / pencils, paper, notebook) so they are ready anytime you would need them, especially while having LIVE classes. Although we are going digital, we would still read and answer our textbooks so these essential skills would continually be practiced until we go back to regular classes.
Remember, your textbooks will be your “best friends” now that you are not physically with your teachers. There are many things we can learn and discover in the world wide web, but there is nothing that can replace the wealth of knowledge found in books!
What is my class schedule?
In structuring distance learning class schedules, we made accommodations for your age, attention span and duration of healthy screen time.
You will have online classes every day, from Monday – Friday. The typical set up is half day LIVE, half day self paced as shown in the SAMPLE CLASS SCHEDULE below:
Your teacher will upload your final class schedule in your HOMEROOM class during orientation week.
How will I take my exams?
As in a regular face to face classroom, you will have regular assessments in Distance Learning.
Formative assessments
It may be administered / uploaded by the teacher in Google Classroom using its core and additional services, and other similar apps and digital tools, like Google forms and Kahoot!
Summative assessments
It may be administered using appropriate online tools with a greater focus on application of learning.
We will inform you of the different modalities in taking summative assessments as we approach the exam schedule.
What Support Services will the school provide to help us and our parents?
Distance Learning will not be easy, especially during the first few months. We have prepared some support services to help you throughout the school year. These include:
Academic Support
We will provide academic counseling to learners who show difficulty in coping with their classwork. Your teachers will conduct differentiated and clustered / small group instructions as needed. One-on-one live interviews via phone call or video call may also be conducted. Your parents shall also receive digital weekly summaries of your class work and progress.
Technical Support
Prior to the opening of classes, we will conduct pre-opening of classes orientation trainings for you and your parents / guardians on Distance Learning and G Suite for Education.
Online Virtual support will also be made available during class hours via Google Chat.
Psychosocial and Spiritual Support
The abrupt shift from a highly social education set up of face to face classes to online distance learning may take a toll on your mental and social health. Should you need help, the Guidance Office will provide online individual counseling to learners via Google Meet or Google Chat.
To the parents,
You are our teaching partners during this time of Distance Learning. Although high school learners do not need as much assistance as the younger ones, we need your presence as your child ’s coach, supporter and motivator!
What is the role of parents in Distance Learning?
As parents /guardians of High School learners, we ask you for the following support:
· Monitor Google Classroom updates and be sure to regularly ask your child about the distance learning tasks, activities and assessments.
· Designate a place where your child will work independently on his/her assigned tasks.
· Ask your child how his day went. Provide encouraging words. When you see your child doing his school work, affirm his efforts!
VERY IMPORTANT!!!
On or before the first week of class, you will receive a guardian invite from your child’s class moderator via email. Follow the link and accept the invite. Doing so will allow Google Classroom to send you weekly summaries of your child’s school work and progress.
----- Thank you! -----
We will be sending you more materials in the next few weeks. For now, enjoy the rest of your vacation before we start the school year.
Stay safe and see you in our virtual classrooms this August! God bless you!