EVSC officials prepared for virtual learning
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WFIE) - School was called off for Wednesday, but before the call was made, EVSC officials were prepared for virtual learning.
“Really any time there’s winter weather that’s predicted for our area, we’re constantly monitoring that,” said Chief Communication Officer Jason Woebkenberg.
Woebkenberg says the corporation will utilize synchronous learning days if they have to cancel school this week. That means students will log on to their devices from home, and have several hours of live instruction from their teachers.
“We’re very fortunate in the EVSC, all of our students K-12 have devices,” Woebkenberg said. “Those devices are being sent home so if we are in a situation where we need to cancel school, we can utilize synchronous instruction. Teachers and students can actually be engaging, utilizing technology, and everyone’s been practicing and preparing for that in all of our schools.”
In the past, the EVSC has used asynchronous days for snow, meaning students were given virtual assignments, but didn’t meet for a class setting.
Woebkenberg says the state gives schools three asynchronous says a year, and through snow make-up and previously scheduled days, the EVSC is out of asynchronous time. That’s why they’re opting for the synchronous approach.
“Of course we want everyone in school, but we’re never going to risk injury to get there,” Woebkenberg said.
Students will need a reliable internet connection for several hours. Young & Established Executive Director Courtney Johnson says that’s not something that’s available to everyone.
“It’s a very big issue, and I think COVID exposed that,” Johnson said. “We were one of the six hubs that were able to get community WiFi. It was something we pushed for for a very long time. I’m happy we’re able to have it, but we don’t cover the whole area. There’s still a lot of students that probably don’t have access to WiFi.”
To help this problem, Johnson says anyone who needs WiFi for their school work is welcome to contact Young and Established through their website, and come use their computers or internet.
“If the schools shut down and the students need to get some homework done, we open up.”
For a list of school closings, click HERE.
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