Hybrid classrooms

[Anonymous]

A friend in PA has her 3rd grader in a concurrent classroom (she’s doing DL). The teacher faces the class and is also facing a camera. The at home kids are up on a big screen so the teacher can see them and the kids in school can also see them. Not sure if the at home kids can see the in school kids, but they can definitely hear them during discussions.

She said it’s working really well (but they’ve been doing it all year, not starting 3/4 of the way through and it’s a pretty wealthy district where the school and kids have great tech.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A friend in PA has her 3rd grader in a concurrent classroom (she’s doing DL). The teacher faces the class and is also facing a camera. The at home kids are up on a big screen so the teacher can see them and the kids in school can also see them. Not sure if the at home kids can see the in school kids, but they can definitely hear them during discussions.

She said it’s working really well (but they’ve been doing it all year, not starting 3/4 of the way through and it’s a pretty wealthy district where the school and kids have great tech.)

I visited a school in rural Australia in the early 1990s that did concurrent learning. Some kids were in person, some had called in (no video). It worked for them with very limited technology, so I really don’t understand the angst over doing it with the advanced technology we have now. I know it’s new, but people should give it a chance. I think it can work.

[Anonymous]

Seriously?? This has been explained a million times since last November or so when the plan shifted. Why are so many of you just paying attention in February?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It depends which county you are in. Your post doesn’t indicate.

Or grade level. It will look different in lower ES/upper ES/MS/HS/career center.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A friend in PA has her 3rd grader in a concurrent classroom (she’s doing DL). The teacher faces the class and is also facing a camera. The at home kids are up on a big screen so the teacher can see them and the kids in school can also see them. Not sure if the at home kids can see the in school kids, but they can definitely hear them during discussions.

She said it’s working really well (but they’ve been doing it all year, not starting 3/4 of the way through and it’s a pretty wealthy district where the school and kids have great tech.)

I visited a school in rural Australia in the early 1990s that did concurrent learning. Some kids were in person, some had called in (no video). It worked for them with very limited technology, so I really don’t understand the angst over doing it with the advanced technology we have now. I know it’s new, but people should give it a chance. I think it can work.

I doubt rural Australia was doing anything remarkable- I had a sort of concurrent model for certain classes in my HS in rural US in the late 90s/early 00s- shared teachers with the other HS in the area. We had a room outfitted for this purpose with cameras, monitors, mics and it was awful. It was hard to hear our teacher when she was at the other school, impossible to hear classmates. This technology would obviously be outdated today but I don't think any of the big school systems around here will have current technology set up to run it like a small wealthy system in PA. That said, I'm giving it a chance. Although, I heard the PD given to APS staff on concurrent teaching yesterday was a flop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone please explain what the classrooms will look like for the hybrid students? I understand that students will have to bring their own laptops and sit one to a desk. I don't quite get how they will engage with the teacher. Is the teacher teaching to them AND the DL students at the same time? How will they interact? WILL they interact at all? I mean is this going to be just like home except not home? Basically will the teacher teach to them or to the screen?

I am a teacher and I have no idea. I’m also am not sure I understand why students come in only two days a week if we are concurrent, and why do they come two days in a row?

Because parents raged hard and couldn’t stand their kids anymore?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone please explain what the classrooms will look like for the hybrid students? I understand that students will have to bring their own laptops and sit one to a desk. I don't quite get how they will engage with the teacher. Is the teacher teaching to them AND the DL students at the same time? How will they interact? WILL they interact at all? I mean is this going to be just like home except not home? Basically will the teacher teach to them or to the screen?

I am a teacher and I have no idea. I’m also am not sure I understand why students come in only two days a week if we are concurrent, and why do they come two days in a row?

Because parents raged hard and couldn’t stand their kids anymore?

No, I don't think that's the explanation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone please explain what the classrooms will look like for the hybrid students? I understand that students will have to bring their own laptops and sit one to a desk. I don't quite get how they will engage with the teacher. Is the teacher teaching to them AND the DL students at the same time? How will they interact? WILL they interact at all? I mean is this going to be just like home except not home? Basically will the teacher teach to them or to the screen?

I am a teacher and I have no idea. I’m also am not sure I understand why students come in only two days a week if we are concurrent, and why do they come two days in a row?

I am also a teacher. I do know the answers to these questions, but I'm actually wondering why you haven't asked your principal? When I have questions about my job and I want more information, I ask my boss.

[Anonymous]

I’m a teacher. It’s going to be weird, for sure, but there will be some benefits. Kids getting up and out a couple of times a week, that classroom structure that will kind of force them to pay attention, the ability of the teacher to gauge how students in the room are doing. Recess.

It’s not going to be ideal, but, hey, it’s a start, right? We’re headed in the right direction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone please explain what the classrooms will look like for the hybrid students? I understand that students will have to bring their own laptops and sit one to a desk. I don't quite get how they will engage with the teacher. Is the teacher teaching to them AND the DL students at the same time? How will they interact? WILL they interact at all? I mean is this going to be just like home except not home? Basically will the teacher teach to them or to the screen?

I am a teacher and I have no idea. I’m also am not sure I understand why students come in only two days a week if we are concurrent, and why do they come two days in a row?

I am also a teacher. I do know the answers to these questions, but I'm actually wondering why you haven't asked your principal? When I have questions about my job and I want more information, I ask my boss.

It’s part of the “future mess” that I would rather not try and sort out at the moment. There are too many unknown variables right now with our wi fi and tech; plus all my stuff is being moved next week to a new classroom.

[Anonymous]

For the teachers, it will feel like starting all over again, but we’ll do it. I just read the stuff people post on here and get so upset. I don’t know that people understand that it’s been tough. I wish people understood how many hours went in to the DL they hate so much. How much thought will go in to concurrent. I’m not complaining, but when I read stuff like we’re sitting in the couch all say, I get angry. I have kids, too. I work my ass off. I’m in the same “pandemic boat”. People really seem to resent us for what I saw as a necessary closure to endure public health.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a teacher. It’s going to be weird, for sure, but there will be some benefits. Kids getting up and out a couple of times a week, that classroom structure that will kind of force them to pay attention, the ability of the teacher to gauge how students in the room are doing. Recess.

It’s not going to be ideal, but, hey, it’s a start, right? We’re headed in the right direction.

As long as the hybrid kids in room, and the hybrid and DL kids online all are having an equitable experience and engagement with you then yes it’s in the right direction. On any given day potentially 2/3 of your students will be at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For the teachers, it will feel like starting all over again, but we’ll do it. I just read the stuff people post on here and get so upset. I don’t know that people understand that it’s been tough. I wish people understood how many hours went in to the DL they hate so much. How much thought will go in to concurrent. I’m not complaining, but when I read stuff like we’re sitting in the couch all say, I get angry. I have kids, too. I work my ass off. I’m in the same “pandemic boat”. People really seem to resent us for what I saw as a necessary closure to endure public health.

To “ensure”!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a teacher. It’s going to be weird, for sure, but there will be some benefits. Kids getting up and out a couple of times a week, that classroom structure that will kind of force them to pay attention, the ability of the teacher to gauge how students in the room are doing. Recess.

It’s not going to be ideal, but, hey, it’s a start, right? We’re headed in the right direction.

As long as the hybrid kids in room, and the hybrid and DL kids online all are having an equitable experience and engagement with you then yes it’s in the right direction. On any given day potentially 2/3 of your students will be at home.

We’ll do the best we can. We’ll agonize over it. People will still find fault. It’s a step toward normal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a teacher. It’s going to be weird, for sure, but there will be some benefits. Kids getting up and out a couple of times a week, that classroom structure that will kind of force them to pay attention, the ability of the teacher to gauge how students in the room are doing. Recess.

It’s not going to be ideal, but, hey, it’s a start, right? We’re headed in the right direction.

As long as the hybrid kids in room, and the hybrid and DL kids online all are having an equitable experience and engagement with you then yes it’s in the right direction. On any given day potentially 2/3 of your students will be at home.

Or, you know, half.