Change Yourself, Change the World

How To Hold Virtual Learning Space In These Times?

• Marius Luca wrote ...

  Thanks for reaching out, Fran. Indeed, we are holding the same questions, since I also moved my social and emotional learning classes online since the school closed two days ago. Although I found the first couple of lessons to be more structured and we made better use of our time, I also feel me and the students are missing out on the social and emotional connectivity. It's like the reality is only 2D instead of 3D. However, I know from laddership circles that, by holding space, anchors can make it possible for deep listening, connection and transformation to become possible. What I can share from my first interactions was that holding a minute of silence at the beginning and a minute of gratitude at the end help most participants tune in to their own internal environment as well as [...]

• Audrey Lin wrote ...

  Thanks so much for this great question, Fran! A couple articles I came across this week, in case they are relevant as a reference:
  --Advice For Newly Remote Teachers
  --Preparing To Take School Online: 10 Tips.
  
  Also, a couple more (not related to online learning per se, but of general value):
  --Kindness Proves Contagious As Coronavirus Spreads
  --How To Keep The Greater Good In Mind During The Coronavirus Outbreak.  

• Andy Smallman wrote ...

  My oldest daughter is a school counselor in Seattle. Her school, like all others in our region, has been shut down through at least April 24th. She's put together a resource list for parents. For what it's worth, I'm trying to help people learn how to create a warmer virtual environment -- the importance of light placement, background staging, etc. I don't really think of myself as an expert in this but I've seen so many people just plug in and go from wherever they normally place their computers. They are bathed in shadow or look a bit scary. A few alterations can go a long way to helping people, especially children, feel connected. I'm working with a well-being expert in the UK to reach out to people who might otherwise have been resistant to connect virtually, [...]

• Vishesh Gupta wrote ...

  In general - a virtual circle could flow as: start with a minute of silence, there's a seed question, someone moderates, and people answer. As far as presence, I give a little extra space before speaking online, since it's harder to have the visual cues as to whether someone is done speaking.
  
  Another idea is to have your students, if they're comfortable, collect in small "pods" (with distance between each other) of 3-4 and dial in together. In that case, you can split up the discussion among them (using something like 1-2-4-all from liberating structures?) and then use the virtual platform as presence and just to share out at the end.

• Bradley Stoll wrote ...

  Given that I'm in the same proverbial boat as Fran, I'm loving reading all of this wisdom. I'm going to ask students to continue with our minute of silence that we've done since day 1 of the school year. Although I'm supposed to spend most of the time "teaching" math, I plan to spend more time just checking in with them...see how they're feeling. I know if I were in their shoes I'd be anxious; I learn much better, do much better, with in-person teaching. I like Vishesh's idea of a mini group sign in...maybe I'll suggest it to my students. If their parents will allow it, maybe a few of them could spend some physical space together and "attend school together," albeit sometimes with a different teacher.

• Jane Murray wrote ...

  I don't think I have much to add to all of these fantastic insights. Definitely the minute of silence at the beginning and the end seems to wrap the online space in something more intimate. My observation in the laddership circles is that the field created by somebody deeply listening on a virtual platform seems to add to the intimacy and lends clarity to people's thought and interactions. Strangely I find that this can be amplified by the lack of physical presence as we aren't distracted (so much) by the other non verbal information we usually have in someone's presence. I think there may be a magic number for interaction - maybe up to 10 people ( somebody suggested smaller pods and that could work well) but if it's more instruction, the number of participants doesn't matter so much I thi [...]

• Trishna Shah wrote ...

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  Great news to see Zoom made available to schools for free! Lovely to see this response from the tech sector during these uncertain times...

• Fran Faraz wrote ...

  Thank you all so much for all the wisdom you've been giving me through your post. I'm taking all of this in and processing them. I've been writing to the students and asking them not to feel isolated. Social distance should not mean social isolation. They agree that this is a very teachable moment and we should cease the opportunity to build a resilient community. I am at ah with this generation.
  
  Thank you all so much. I'll share more once I'll have more details.
  Bug hugs,
  Fran

• Janessa Wilder wrote ...

  I really appreciate the question and discussion. I found this newsletter from Global Oneness Project, which has so many wonderful educational resources available, really helpful. [View Link] +Oneness+Project+Newsletter&utm_campaign=3e34086678-Free+Resources&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_484790f1e5-3e34086678-196415837 Transitioning to Online Learning In the wake of the deepening global pandemic which is beginning to fill us with uncertainty, we are asking ourselves how can we best support our community during this unprecedented time. As a parent with two teenagers, I'm witnessing a wave of emotions, from shock to anxiety of the unknown. As more schools close and transition to online learning, more weight and responsibility falls on teachers as well as parents. As we adjust to these chang [...]

• Avni wrote ...

  Hi Fran, so many great suggestions already! I'll just say smaller groups help, having a co coordinator is a big logistical support for those chatting if that's possible? Break out rooms where people decide who will speak once they get back in the larger space are also helpful. My EdTech program was completely online so happy to collaborate in other ways with any teachers.

• Brinda Govindan wrote ...

  I have been using the "breakout room" feature on Zoom to have students discuss in small groups and they are really enjoying it b/c they get to talk to each other and then report back to the whole group. Thank you all for the wisdom and suggestions! I am also checking in with students at the beginning of each class just to see how they are doing, and I'm also emailing those who are unable to attend our "virtual" class to see how they are doing.
  

• Fran Faraz wrote ...

  Hi all, Hope you're doing well. Thanks again for giving me your wisdom, as soon as I put my request out there. Things have changed a lot since last time we talked. I spent hours on zoom training about Distant learning and all the technological thins we had to learn to deliver our material. Some students have been very generous in participating some testing sessions to see how the technology works when we go into real everyday delivery of the class. This week, I'll put together more of my content and cease the opportunity to include some material and exercises that help students understand interconnections, compassion and service. The virus has created a very inequitable world of learning. At the same time an opportunity to make it right. I plan on using the 21 days of challenge as o [...]

• Marius Luca wrote ...

  Hi Fran and all, It's so good to hear of your intentions and how you've integrated the recent on-going dialogue. I think it's great to try the 21 days of challenge, I thought about it myself. Some practices might require to be changed/adapted to the circumstances, but I'm sure students' imagination and creativity will be stimulated in this way. I'm also thinking of leaving some space where the students come up with suggestions on how we can best spend our time together. In this way, I hope, they will take ownership and feel empowered by their collective decision. We've also recently announced a mindfulness-based resilience workshop for the parents of our community, as many of them took on new and difficult roles since they and their children are at home all the time. Fran, y [...]