The workday for Gettysburg Area School District (GASD) teachers and families has changed dramatically as the district has moved to online learning for the remainder of the school year.
In this article I talk with Scott Jones, a GASD Middle School Science Teacher, about his experiences.
This article is the first in a series of interviews with students, teachers, and parents in Adams County who are participating in online learning. Please contact us if you’d like to share your experiences.
“I was on four hours of online meetings this morning,” said Jones. “I was using Zoom on my own personal computer at the same time I was checking emails from students on my phone and accessing their materials on the school computer using Google Classroom.”
“It’s not going to be same, but I’m trying to keep things as normal as possible. I wear the same shirt on the Zoom meetings that I wear every day to school,” said Jones.
Jones said the first order of business was setting up the system. “We didn’t have the structure set up. We’re just now getting computers to some kids.”
“We had families in the district who didn’t have Internet access, but we made a spreadsheet and we targeted individuals.” said Jones.
“I had a student I hadn’t heard from: No call, no show, no nothing,” said Jones. We texted the family and in the end the principal went to their house to drop off a computer.”
“I’m really impressed with how the GASD administration has been taking care of kids,” said Jones. “We have a good climate at our school and I think we’re in a really good spot for what we’re about to undertake.”
Jones said the grading system would be changing for the rest of the year in his classes.
“There won’t be any tests or quizzes and we’re going to a pass/incomplete mode. We want kids learning. Assessment is something you can do a lot of different ways,” said Jones.
“We’re doing a backyard birding activity which is really about fundamental science,” said Jones.
Jones said the students in his classes were not surprised the coronavirus came to the United States. “We picked up on the virus in early January, and compiled our original notes about it on January 22,” said Jones. “My students had a way advanced awareness of what is coming.”
Jones says he thinks he is learning more from his students than they are learning from him during the crisis. “What teachers are doing is just the tip of the iceberg,” said Jones. “But I’m working three times harder than I do normally.”
“This is all still in a state of flux, but my kids are interested in learning,” said Jones.
Charles (Chuck) Stangor is Gettysburg Connection's Owner, Publisher, and Editor in Chief. I would like to hear from you. Please contact me at cstangor@gettysburgconnection.org.