Unlike the online classes run during the pandemic, virtual schools are full\u002Dtime standalone schools with their own staff who deploy teaching strategies directed specifically at virtual learning
Before the pandemic started, all of Tommy’s report cards were reassuring, said his mother, Chloe Lalonde. She started to have concerns while he was at home as a Grade 2 student in the early days of the pandemic. Tommy wrote his name as a mirror image and found it difficult to sit still.Sign up to receive daily headline news from the Ottawa SUN, a division of Postmedia Network Inc.By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.
“Choice in education allows us to meet the personalized learning pathways of each student,” said Tom D’Amico, director of education at the Ottawa Catholic School Board, which has two virtual schools, an elementary school and a virtual school. “I enjoy being with my kids. I want to be part of their educational journey,” said Reading. But she feels more comfortable letting a French teacher handle that part of the curriculum.
Hillary and Alyssa McKibbin are attending virtual school for a completely different reason. The entire family is in isolation because Hillary was diagnosed four years ago with aplastic anemia, a medical condition that occurs when the body stops producing new blood cells. Hillary is in recovery after immunosuppressive therapy. If she gets a vial infection, she faces a bone marrow transplant, something the family wants to avoid if possible, said her mother, Kelly McKibbin.
“Sitting in front of a screen was not how we envisioned our child’s life. It’s a blessing, but it’s not a choice we would have made,” said Kelly. “Children need to have fun. Sitting on front of a screen is not fun.” Cynthia Belliveau, who teaches at Blessed Carlo, has been a teacher for 17 years and has always enjoyed bringing technology into the classroom.Belliiveau, an avid reader, usually appears onscreen to her students in front of her bookcase. But she can change the background to a tropical scene if the class is having beach day, for example.Article content
“I like to find new applications for students. In that age group, they are very intrigued. Sometimes they forget they’re learning,” said Belliveau. “We talk to families a lot. Families are heavily invested in education in virtual schooling,” she said. “The connection between home and school is different. But it is so strong.”
But the constant turnover makes it hard to get to know students. “In another high school, you’ll have 200 to 300 incoming students. When we opened up, we had thousands of new students from all over the city,” said Hawes. The lack of social interaction was a drawback. “Many students said it felt like work all the time,” he said. And while there was no physical bullying, cyberbullying is present both in in-person schools and virtual school, he said.
“It added to diversity. The lived experience of a student from West Carleton is different from a student from Alta Vista. They were really getting other perspectives.” “With virtual school, his anxiety is almost gone. He had a hard time self-advocating. Because he’s learning at home, he’s comfortable,” she said.
He also can’t say if virtual schools will be a permanent fixture at the board. School boards have to apply every year to the province to keep the virtual schools open, and no one knows if the province will extend approvals next year.
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