A New Skill For All Of Us

Embrace It: Learning A New Skill

Just when we thought we had this, we found out were just getting started. The KHDA’s the announcement a few days ago, that distance learning would last to the end of the school year, sent a shock wave through our community. As we all know, the beginning of anything is hard as with learning anything new.

This is our chance, as parents, students and teachers, to embrace the challenge that will likely change education and work forever.

A massive and positive shift in education has already taken place as a result of this crisis. Nearly overnight teachers have moved to linked and collaborative online learning, which has taken place much faster than would ever have been predicted. Educators have created blogs, social media pages and chat rooms to join each other sharing world-wide best practice ideas, both what works and what doesn’t work. Apps and programs have been opened up for free use, and upgrades have been made free. The whole world may have finally learned how to have online face to face meetings from anywhere.

Clarion has long led in building student choice into learning engagement, now we are seeing other Dubai schools using this teaching tool in their online practice. Constructing learning at home has become a family project; sharing knowledge, teaching a younger or older sibling is as important at home as students teaching each other in a classroom. As Clarion parents already know, family engagement is key for children. Clarion students insist on sharing their work, their knowledge and ask a million questions, creating a basis for building a stronger relationship with your child.

Students have learned how to challenge themselves, complete assignments and stay on task. Older Clarion students are taking greater control over their own learning and practice a high level of self-direction. For the littlest ones, parents have learned just how much effort, patience and love Clarion teachers give every day in class.

In the recent Gallup poll, 42% of parent’s worry COVID-19 will affect their child’s education negatively. There is no shortage of stories of struggling parents. Demand on parents’ schedules from their own work is high, school work expectations from teachers are taxing and the constant barrage of links, passwords, apps and programs has become too much in many homes.

But as working from home is opening a new landscape for online work, online teacher-led learning is a whole new vista of learning possibilities. No doubt its challenging, Let’s work together to build something new.

Our teachers deserve our thanks and respect. As we head into week three we might just discover, as Clarion Principal Lisa Ripperger says, “As important as the content we

are delivering to your children, what ultimately matters more, is how we are supporting each of them emotionally through this journey”