BMG 2020 Grammarian Issue 2

6 REMOTE LEARNING SUCCESS AT BMG Bacchus Marsh Grammar implemented its online education through a mixture of e-learning tools and interactive video-conferencing classrooms. This provided students with the ability to continue their education via daily interactive classes with their teachers, access all of their materials online and to upload completed work. BMG EXCELS IN TEACHING AND LEARNING DURING COVID-19 “Challenges are what make life interesting, and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.” – Joshua J. Marine In February, news started filtering into Australia of a rapidly spreading virus and its possible impact on our daily lives. At this time, classes continued as normal, students attended camps and excursions; the school was a hive of engaging learning activities. However, in the background, preparations were being made for a series of contingency plans to ensure that, if the school were to shut down, the students would continue to receive the highest quality education. Staff members were busy teaching their classes by day and preparing printed and online resources by night. The situation in relation to the spread of COVID-19 changed quickly, and each day presented a new challenge. In the last week of Term 1, in line with the State Government’s directive, the school closed to students and term holidays commenced early. Staff utilised the student holidays to continue preparations for remote learning. Staff worked tirelessly learning new video conferencing software, producing resources for effective remote learning, and ensuring remote lessons were engaging. The school’s strong ICT network enabled effective use of a range of online learning tools for communication and the continuation of learning. The beginning of Term 2 saw the implementation of remote learning across the school. The school opened for the children of essential workers. Their laughter echoing across the near empty schoolyard was a welcome sign of their ability to cope in uncertain times. What set Bacchus Marsh Grammar apart from many other schools was the strong focus on student welfare and engagement and the ability to maintain a sense of normality. Morning and afternoon tutor groups continued to enable daily check-ins, tours of backyards and the introduction of pets to classmates. Normal timetabled classes continued. Students were able to log in to see, communicate and learn with their teachers and fellow classmates.