Remote Learning

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Read in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi

During these troubling times of the COVID-19 epidemic, people are worrying about the safety of the children should schools reopen. And if they are opened, the manner of set-up will be different given the guidelines of the CDC, namely, six feet between students. If so, each student will need at least a six-by-six square foot area. Twenty students will need 720 square feet. This is not possible in an average classroom.

Therefore, State of Hawaiʻi leaders are considering halving schools; open for one-half for half of the week and the other half on the other. When not going to school, students will be at home learning through Zoom or similar remote learning programs.

While teaching hula during this pandemic, I utilized Zoom for live interaction. Students then recorded their hula on Flipgrid. I appreciate this program because the teacher can see each student and can record specific feedback. Other students can also view and give feedback. The instructor can construct a grading matrix where grades are kept on Google Classroom (GC). Google Classroom is what I utilize for announcements, homework assignments and compiling material – songs, stories, etc. – things that support the student. GC is also good for communication and maintenance of grades. The teacher can collaborate and track the progress of several classes on GC and Flipgrid.

Screenshot of a hula class on Flipgrid
Screenshot of a hula class on Flipgrid. Students can watch the video, record themselves dancing, and then the teacher can provide feedback and evaluate the student’s dance. – Photo: Courtesy

Should teachers or a team of students need to develop a lesson, they can utilize the program, Padlet. Malia Nobrega-Oliveira explained this program on “Lei Ānuenue: Episode 5.” If interested, you can search for it on YouTube. All programs are stored there.

Seesaw is another good program for students, teachers, and parents. The students can take pictures, draw, write and leave their work within his/her learning portfolio. Although I haven’t used this, I did watch Kumu Kaleialoha Kanïʻaupiʻo Crozier on “Lei Ānuenue: Episode 19,” explaining how she uses Seesaw. Because of her energetic, enthusiastic and interesting presentation, I was inspired to investigate this program. It is program of great help.

Much appreciation goes to my hula student, Kūkahoʻomalu Souza, a teacher at ʻIolani, for his assistance with GC, Flipgrid and Zoom. We are not, teachers and students, accustomed to these technologies. Therefore, he became our IT person. I thought, if teachers employ these technologies for the students, then several IT persons will be needed to support the teacher, the student and his/her family. There is a need to teach these technologies and that is an interesting prospect. This is the time of remote learning.