Lockdown adjustment: all schools closed since Tuesday – Coronavirus Vienna

After the higher levels, the remaining schools will also switch to distance education starting Tuesday. If necessary, there should be supervision and educational support in small groups. Face-to-face teaching for all schools is scheduled to resume on December 7.

The situation is similar with kindergartens: in principle, there is no compulsory attendance, but children can be cared for in the facilities if necessary. There are also no restrictions on the use of care. The decision on this would be made by individual households, Faßmann said. However, the compulsory kindergarten is lifted for the last year of kindergarten.

A normal school day is still on Monday’s agenda. On this day, students should receive work and learning packets for the next three weeks. A survey is also done as to who is likely to want to use on-site supervision and educational support.

During the three weeks there will be supervision in schools, on the one hand, and “learning stations” will also be set up, on the other. On these, the tasks can be carried out in small groups with pedagogical support. Both this offer and the support can only be used by the hour.

In principle, only what has been learned should be deepened in all subjects and school levels during distance education. If it is “pedagogically justifiable and feasible”, new content can also be transmitted. The decision is up to the teachers.

In distance learning, students “shouldn’t be overwhelmed with new tasks,” Faßmann asked the teachers. In the next three weeks, the focus should be on digging into what has already been learned. “New material should only be transported in moderation.” Even after returning to face-to-face classes, there shouldn’t be too much school work and tests. “You can also do a reliable performance appraisal, for example by evaluating work.”

After 14 days of distance schooling, you are sure that the number of infections has decreased, Faßmann emphasized. Therefore, it was important for him to name December 7 as the specific reopening date, even if it is a window day. “I would like to avoid a state of limbo like in spring.”

Faßmann is also convinced that distance education will work better this time. Technical requirements have improved and learning platforms are part of everyday school life.

Schoolwork planned during this period will be postponed: if it cannot be carried out until the end of the semester due to a collision with other planned schoolwork, it may be canceled if a grade can be given differently (for example, through evaluation of participation).

“Additional written performance evaluations”, such as tests, should only be done if such an evaluation is not possible. Cancellation of school work in final classes in high school should be avoided as much as possible.

To cushion the consequences, support programs are established in the Christmas, semester and Easter holidays, especially for schoolchildren with high learning deficits. Summer School 2021 will also be expanded. The range of remedial instruction is also expanding, partly on a voluntary basis, but also on a mandatory basis.

In addition to the around 11,000 laptops and tablets delivered so far, the Ministry of Education plans to purchase additional devices. The digital school portal (PoDS), the portal of the distance education service, Digi4school or the online eduthek of the Ministry of Education and the Edutube portal that operates will be used.

Current situation of the crown in Austria