Remote Learning of PYP students during lockdown

The COVID-19 have entirely transformed our daily lives and that of children too. Living rooms, bedrooms, balconies, kitchen tables, all are transformed into classrooms today as children are studying online while they are at home. Much learning in schools comes from discussing, talking, questioning each other, answering – and then questioning again. To teach remotely without this whole process is a considerable challenge, as understanding grows from wondering out loud. 

Teachers and students are making this online learning possible by uploading and editing documents, tests and slides. Teachers are sharing lesson presentations and set and mark assignments. Google Meet and ZOOM are some of the most used apps used by schools in order to live-stream interactive lessons which students join and contribute to. 

Remote learning tends to be easier for some students than others. Some students are quite good at managing their time and love to learn independently. Although the younger students may find it harder to work on their own and manage their time, teachers are trying their best to engage students as far as possible. While some things are possible, some are really not. Having online resources is one thing, and having online access is another. Many students will be sharing family computers; while some don’t have access at all. For those students, schools are trying to post home books, photocopied pages, and printouts, but there will be issues as teachers will not be able to communicate with them daily. And of course, many students will not have a quiet place to learn. As with so many things right now, none of us knows how it will turn out. But it will gradually get better.

Various IB schools in Mumbai such as Mount Litera School International are engaging their students through PYP class presentations. Let’s look at how students are reacting and performing:

• A student named Aarnav Mavinkurve prepared a IB school presentation on Urbanisation. He explained the UN sustainable development goal of sustainable cities. He told why it is essential to strategize to deal with the challenges of urbanization. He described it with a poster on how we destroy villages in order to build buildings and how it impacts the environment we live in.

• Next is the student named Aaron Bapuna, who worked on the topic Waste Management. He presented a fascinating presentation. He said that he had chosen this topic as he is really worried about the fact that even after so much awareness people are still throwing out trash in the open which releases unsafe gases. He presented that this issue is also increased due to the absence of continuous garbage collection systems, convenient landfills, open canals and drains, and more! 

• Another student, named Anaya Shah worked on the topic of Marine plastic pollution. She presented a marvellous presentation on the theme and said that she would love to go to different beaches to clean once this lockdown is over. She aims to spread awareness to stop plastic pollution.

By looking at the points mentioned above, it is quite clear that children are learning a lot through this PYP class presentation. Seeing the engagement and efforts children are putting into, all schools should try such methods so that children can distract themselves from this pandemic along with learning something new every day.