Distance Learning Plan

Distance Learning

The EARJ Distance Learning Plan was designed to support our students while our campuses are closed. This plan has been developed by our team, drawing upon the input and wisdom of a great many peer schools and organizations who have shared their models, experiences and insights over the past weeks.

We would like to acknowledge and thank all the teachers for their hard work, adaptability and dedication in framing this vision of distance learning. These are difficult times for all of us, and we are grateful to all staff for their continued professionalism at a time that is both professionally and personally challenging.

Communication Procedures Designing the Learning Experience For Parents – Guidelines For Students – Roles & Responsibilities

Communication Procedures

The mechanisms utilized to communicate emergency information among faculty, staff, students, and visitors will incorporate a variety of communication channels. The sharing of information in the event of a school closure currently proceeds as follows:

  • E-mail from School Head of School to all community members including start date for plan;
  • Notice on the school website and in divisional newsletters;
  • E-bulletin & Principal’s blogs;
  • EARJ social media

Please note that the only authorized communications from the school are from @earj.com.br email addresses. Should you receive any email communication claiming to be from EARJ that is not from an @earj.com.br address, please disregard the message and let us know at communications@earj.com.br.

Designing the Learning Experience

Our approach to distance learning assumes that we have to think a little differently about how students learn. The learning experiences teachers design when school is in regular session cannot be simply replicated through distance learning. The kinds of social interactions, forms of collaboration and the thousands of shared experiences that occur naturally among students – and between teachers and students – cannot be recreated in the same way online.

In a distance learning situation, teachers need to adapt teaching methods that reframe planned instruction to accommodate a very different learning environment. Yet despite the change in context, the basic challenge of distance learning remains the same as for face-to-face learning: to inspire young people to make sense of new ideas and develop understandings; to apply that understanding in meaningful ways; and to be given timely feedback to support their growth and learning.

We are indebted to the many peer schools and organizations who have shared their models, experiences and insights over the past weeks. As much as we recognize the challenges we all face at this difficult time, so too we are excited by the opportunities ahead as we look to make the very best use of the learning technologies at our disposal.

For Parents – Guidelines

  1. Ensure that your child has access to a suitable device at home (iPad / Chromebook / Laptop) as well as a stable connection to the internet.
  2. Make sure your child has a suitable study environment, ideally in an accessible area. It is not a good idea to allow your child to be isolated in their bedroom for hours at a time while online.
  3. Regularly check in on your child’s engagement, progress and work submission.
  4. Monitor communications from your child’s teachers and be clear on who to contact so that you can support your child with any questions or concerns as they arise.
  5. It is important that well-being remains at the forefront of our thoughts:
  6. Remain mindful of your child’s stress or worry;
  7. Schedule regular breaks during online study;
  8. Plan activities to help your child exercise;
  9. Take steps to maintain a reasonable balance between online and offline activities.
  10. Begin and end each day with a check-in with your child to clarify what is expected of them.
  11. Take an active role in helping your child process their learning.
  12. Keep your child social, but set rules around their social media interactions.
  13. Let the school secretary know if your child is unable to be present.

For Students – Roles & Responsibilities

  1. Maintain daily routines and focus to apply yourself effectively to distance learning.
  2. Identify a comfortable, quiet space in your home where you can work effectively and successfully.
  3. Regularly monitor online platforms to check for announcements and feedback from your teachers.
  4. Complete assignments with integrity and academic honesty, doing your best work.
  5. Meet timelines, commitments, and due dates.
  6. Communicate proactively with your teachers if you require additional support.
  7. Collaborate with and support your peers in their learning.
  8. Comply with EARJ’s expectations for academic honesty and online behavior.
  9. Be proactive in communicating with your teachers as different needs arise