Hawaii Island public schools are using different strategies to prepare teachers and students for the first week of distanced learning during the turbulent, ever-changing beginning of the 2020-21 school year.
Teachers and tutors stood outside Ernest Bowen de Silva Elementary School on Monday to hand out packets of information regarding virtual learning to parents driving through the lot in front of the school.
Half of the school’s students will begin virtual classes today.
On Aug. 11, the Department of Education announced that public schools on Hawaii, Maui and Kauai must transition entirely to distance learning for the first four weeks of instruction due to concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic.
E.B. de Silva will be following the guidance until the DOE assesses whether students can safely return before Sept. 8.
“We want the kids in the classroom — that would be ideal,” Principal Dennis O’Brien said. “Education is so important, but even more important than that is the safety of our students and teachers, as well.”
One group of students was instructed to log on today for instruction about how virtual learning and individual tasks will work. A second group will log on for the same instruction Wednesday.
On Thursday, teachers will set up a Zoom call for their classes, which will further instruct students about what they can expect from their specific classes.
“I really wish we could see our students again. I miss them,” E.B. de Silva sixth-grade teacher Phil Bisel said. “It’s understandable why we can’t, but it puts many people in a bad position.”
Although older students might be able to handle independent learning and virtual classes, students in lower grades will still need help from parents and guardians while not in class.
“I’m not as worried teaching sixth grade, but I do know this will be difficult for younger students,” Bisel said. “Parents should not have to become the teachers, but their students will need guidance.”
While some elementary schools are following a plan similar to E.B. de Silva’s, some schools are taking this week to meet with students for in-person instruction.
Ha‘aheo Elementary and Chiefess Kapiolani Elementary have scheduled different groups of students to come to school today through Thursday to learn how to participate in virtual classes and to pick up necessary supplies and equipment.
While some in-person interaction is necessary to prepare students and parents for distance learning, the Hawaii State Teachers Association has stated it is concerned that some students are receiving information in person for hours at a time.
“We’re only a few hours into the first day to get a real pulse of how things are going across the state,” Nanea Kalani, a spokesperson for the DOE, said in an email to Associated Press. “We don’t have a tally at the state level of how many schools jumped right into distance learning versus how many are offering in-person orientations or training,” she said, because school leaders were allowed to make their own plans.
Until last Tuesday, the Hilo High School faculty was preparing for a blended model of virtual and in-person learning, with a third of students coming to school each day.
After the DOE announced that Big Island public schools would transition entirely to distance learning, the Hilo High administration and teachers began to quickly change their plans.
“We have definitely had to switch gears quickly since getting the news,” Principal Jasmine Urasaki said. “It’s going OK so far, but it is something we all have to get used to.”
On Monday, a third of Hilo High students picked up information about virtual learning as well as supplies and equipment needed for specific classes.
Teachers have been getting in touch with students to help them understand what they can expect in the next few weeks while simultaneously changing their lesson plans to better fit a fully virtual model.
“We will begin the ‘normal’ bell schedule on Thursday,” Urasaki said. “Students and teachers will have to be logged on to their class on time for 80 minutes each class.”
Hilo and Waiakea High Schools will be following a schedule that is similar to a normal day at school. Students will have three to four classes online each day with “passing periods” between to allow students time to log on to the next class.
Teachers will be teaching from their classrooms over Zoom while students will be actively participating from their homes. Independent class work and activities will look different depending on the class.
Hilo High has developed a hotline for parents and students to call today and Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. if they need help with the technology or have general concerns about starting school.
“We’re trying to make the best of this situation, and so far it is going as well as it can,” Urasaki said.
Email Kelsey Walling at kwalling@hawaiitribune-herald.com