Notes from Worcester students on remote learning

screen capture from last night's meeting

As was noted in today's T&G, at last night's Worcester School Committee meeting, we met with some of our students. This starts about 14 minutes in on the video, and if it's of interest, you might take a look. I took some notes on the responses to the questions:

• Will courses next year be scaffolded to take into account what students may have missed this spring? Yes, as the understanding is that most students will be moving forward into the next grade.
• Does the 1-4 additional points available for students to add to their final grade in the fourth quarter also apply to AP courses? Yes, it does.
• How does the secondary option of off-campus PE work for fourth quarter? Students are taking it pass/fail. 
• Students will be scheduled to come get their belongings from their lockers during the second week of June. AP students needing access to their work before then (for example, AP studio art students) should contact their principals.
• We don't yet know if the beginning of next year's school will be modified.
• How are life skills students receiving instruction? Packets and phone calls from teachers
• How are students who don't have Chromebooks and/or access taking AP exams? The College Board is sending out Chromebooks and the district (!) is sending out hotspots.
• Seniors who paid for AP tests will get their refund with their diplomas. Others will receive them in the mail. 
• On graduation: Josten's is handling video. All seniors are being mailed caps and gowns, paid for by the district. The graduations will be streamed online. Pickup for diplomas will be arranged by school. 
• Is there any plan by the state to adjust MCAS score metrics due to the loss of instructional time this year? Good question. They haven't said yet (I don't think they're anywhere near deciding yet.) Likewise, how can AP scores from this year be compared to any other year? We don't know yet (and the colleges aren't saying that they will).
• How does this all impact next year's budget? We don't know yet. Mr. Allen's exact words were "we're eager to see what the state and the city are going to do; stay tuned."

I asked students what we should know about remote learning. Some of what was said:

• As students are learning something, teachers can't and don't respond immediately, often, which is difficult. There is lack of communication between some teachers and students. 
• Students are getting multiple assignments from multiple sources at all kinds of different times. 
• Some students are providing childcare for younger siblings during the day and don't have time for their work.
• Many families have multiple children sharing a single Chromebook or even phone for work.