WAB Community Reflects on Return to Remote Learning

It’s no secret that we’d rather be learning together on campus. However, the evolution of the remote learning program of the Western Academy of Beijing (WAB) and the very different circumstances this year have made an impact on the experience for teachers and students alike.  

As WAB’s principals discussed on The WAB Podcast last week (listen via QR code below), our school is building on lessons from last year’s remote learning experience and employing knowledge gained from the world’s leading experts and organizations to create the current program.  

Students have also played a major part in re-shaping the remote experience. In the Middle School, student council has taken part in sessions with the administration and faculty. While they reported that lessons are well-structured and faculty have been very accessible to serve their needs, the student committee also worked with the administration to create more time for off-screen activities, like physical wellness and “brain breaks” throughout the day.

Another key aspect of the successful return to remote learning has been the community’s adoption of key technology platforms.  

"Whether at home or at school, all our students are learning together in spaces that promote meaningful and contextual shared learning experiences," said WAB's Head of EdTech Kevin Crouch. "Having one platform, Microsoft Teams, that promotes effective communication and collaboration has been highly advantageous for remote learning in the Middle and High School. In the Elementary School, our new candidate learning platforms, coupled with a remote learning plan that aims to achieve continuity of classroom differentiation and personalization, have offered a more fluid and enriching experience for our learners."

While the community excitedly anticipates our reunion campus, many members have stopped to reflect on the current situation and what it means to be taking on remote learning as a way to protect our community’s health and safety.

“This morning I took a moment to acknowledge the positives from this situation we're in, and one of which is being able to observe how [my child] is taught at school,” one WAB parent wrote to her child’s teacher. “I love the teaching approach and quality, and it's very reassuring to know that he's in good hands. I also appreciate the amount of care and thought that's gone into providing each student with a personalized learning schedule. I enjoy the ample breaks that allow us to take a breather. The school principal's communication over the weekend and learning kits helped me prepare mentally for online learning.”

To find out more about how WAB transitioned back online, as well as other innovative learning initiatives at the school, check out The WAB Podcast: https://wabtiger.libsyn.com/.

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Images and video: courtesy of the Western Academy of Beijing

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