Despite all the negative aspects of this pandemic and its transition to online / distance learning, we are still able to see each other in “class” with available technology. Normally, I would be going to my placement at Beachwood High School, but I no longer can given these special circumstances. Fortunately, we are still able to communicate with our students via online portals. This is a blessing and a curse because we cannot fully track their progress or interact with them in the same ways. However, we know that our students are becoming more independent and they can create a schedule at home that works best for them.
In terms of technology, I do not know how the students are currently participating in their English class. I know that while I was observing their English class in person, the students used Google Classroom as a way to submit online work. However, they did not always utilize this. The students have their own Chromebooks which they are able to take home with them every day if they want. These Chromebooks have a firewall on them, of course. However, some students had their own Apple computers and iPads that they brought with them to class. Once at the end of class, the teacher asked all of the juniors to use the last 10-15 minutes or so of class to silently read the novel that they were studying in class to get a jump start on their homework. Every student pulled out a copy except for one girl, who said that she had the book in her kindle app on her iPad. About five minutes later as I was walking around the room, I saw she was watching “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” on Disney+. Clearly, the firewall at Beachwood does not prevent students from accessing social media or streaming services. I see students use snap chat and Twitter during lecture while I watch from the back of the room.
Even though students can access many websites in school on their school-owned Chromebooks, I did notice that they are unable to access YouTube. This was the only site I noticed–besides inappropriate websites–that is blocked by the school’s firewall.
As I said in my last post, there is plenty of technology available at BHS. The students had access to a beautiful library and media center where they could check out laptops and iPads. The librarians in the media center are a group of wonderful ladies who are very knowledgeable and helpful with the school’s technology. Whenever there was a problem with the technology, my cooperating teacher went to the librarians first for help. On many occasions, it has been difficult to print something on the first, second, and third tries. Once, I also had troubles with the document camera for a handout that I was trying to show to the class during my lesson. The librarians were very helpful in this situation! This media center also has small study rooms. These rooms are meant for 1-4 people to do private studying or group work. They have a table with chairs, a few outlets, and a big TV mounted on the wall with HDMI cords so that the students can see their work from their computers on the big screen. It really reminds me of something from a college or a university. Most of the students ask to leave class to go to the library in order to print their work. This suggests, to me, that even though we live in a digital age, the students still prefer to have hard copies of their readings and essays and assignments.
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