How do you do it all virtually?

I work at a classical Christian school.

We tend to stray from a any significant use of technology in the classroom. 

Our students are not allowed to have their phones in school. 

Last month, our parent teacher association hosted an event for parents to better understand the negative effects of screen time on adolescents. 

We're big on discussion, Socratic circles, and relationship building.

Today we started teaching online because the governor closed all the schools in Virginia through the end of the school year. We took last week off to prepare and plan. We had 8 days to go from a school that intentionally does not embrace technology to a school that is teaching 100% through distance learning. 

What. An. Adjustment. 

So how do you maintain a classical model while teaching virtually? Here are some suggestions...but I'd love to do hear your thoughts as this is incredibly new for me. 

• Diversify the assignments: We know that students learn differently. By nature, distance learning limits the ways in which we can teach. Because of this, it's important to vary the ways we teach as well as the types of assignments we have our students turn in. Not everyone learns the same way and our goal should be to connect and reach as many students as possible. 

• Have at least one assignment during the week that allows for creativity: This week we are reading 'The Pearl' by Steinbeck. One of the assignments is for them to draw what they think one of the scenes in the book would look like. I also found a website called Pixton, that allows students to create their own comic strip. Another assignment for this week is for the class to use this site and create a comic strip from a scene in the book. Their grade will be based on how accurate their dialogue is and if the setting and characters look like what we know based on context clues from the story. Students who are more artistic and creative in nature will be drawn to these types of assignments.  (Also we got to create a "class photo" which was so fun!) 

• Have at least one assignment where they are working together: We are currently living in a world of isolation. By its very nature, social distancing, has the potential to be very lonely. If at all possible, assign a few tasks during the week that require the students to work together. This gives them the opportunity to continue building relationships with one another as well as collaborate together. 
• Ask thought provoking questions: Ask questions that go beyond yes or no answers. Just because you're using a virtual platform doesn't mean you can't have great discussion. Here is an example of a thought provoking question that lent to some good discussion in class this week. (Make sure you require lengthy answers. Requiring that their answers be two or more paragraphs forces them to think more deeply about the topic). 
• The question: What is the difference between ambition and greed? Do you see either in "The Pearl"?
• A few of the answers. They were tasked with creating their own response and also responding to others (community).  
• Not all assignments should be done over a screen: Just because we NEED the screen doesn't mean we should ONLY use the screen. Include assignments such as reading or creative projects that would need to be done away from the computer. 
• Don't waste the live sessions: Our middle and high school students are meeting live once or twice a week per subject. One thing I'm going to be working on this week is to use those sessions wisely. Lectures can be posted (via PowerPoint or a recording). Live sessions should serve to answer questions or explain things that can't be explained or discussed in a lecture. Use this time to create relationships and further discussion. Have breakout groups (zoom allows this as an option) and make sure that everyone understands what is required of them for the week. In a world where face to face interaction is limited, make it count. 
• Biblically Integrate: Just because your teaching online doesn't mean you can't Biblically integrate. Below is an example of this week's biblical integration for "The Pearl" (which is a parable). Notice how this assignment has them reading the text (hopefully they are doing this with their own Bibles and not on the computer) as well as listening to and watching the text (this pulls in the visual and auditory learners which goes back to reaching out to all learning styles). 

If you're a teacher entering into this new reality-I'd love to hear your tips and tricks. Learning from each other will only strengthen the end result.