Schools are already preparing for next year’s scenarios: distance education may be necessary in September

According to Aidas Aldakauskas, Director of the Department of Quality and Regional Policy of the Department of Education, such school self-determination was influenced both by successful distance learning lessons and by the end of the upcoming school year: just a few weeks ago.

“The ministry encouraged schools, along with school councils and founders, to assess the need and opportunities for return, to spend more time on consultations for students who were left with uncertainties, who had more difficulty learning to distance, “explained A. Aldakauskas.

Pandemic scenario preparation

According to him, the most important thing is the safety and health of children and teachers, especially since distance learning has been quite successful. “We are considering the September scenario, we are preparing for the possible option that we could continue studying under quarantine conditions,” the interlocutor did not rule out such possibilities.

At the end of the school year, in mid-June, the SMSM plans to hold a final conference, where possibilities for improving distance learning practices and opportunities will be discussed with stakeholders. “A digital education strategy will be developed in the near future, both for the near future and with a focus on the future. It is important to preserve and use the great work of distance learning, the good experience and later, not only during the quarantine, ”said A. Aldakauskas about the changes.

Distance education could also be used in other contexts, such as individual or group counseling for students, carrying out project activities. “In these two months, education has taken a great step forward, so we need to increase that potential,” he reiterated.

Decisions on education and the work of educational institutions will be made by the Government in September, taking into account the epidemiological situation. If the children have to stay home, their care will be decided accordingly.

Darius Rekis, head of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports of the Municipality of Akmenė District, who was interviewed by Delfi, said that the general education institutions of this region also decided to finish the school year remotely, creating conditions for the Graduates consult live if necessary.

“The contact training returned to non-formal education institutions. It is true that music schools use a mixed approach, which allows parents with children to choose the form of the lesson themselves ”, highlighted separate areas of education.

Speaking about the upcoming school year, D. Rekis mentioned that the heads of the institutions will be consulted, various options will be modeled, including the possibility of distance education, so that the quarantine situation of the district’s educational community does not come unexpectedly.

“We understand that distance learning cannot replace contact lessons in exactly the same way, but proper time organization is a sufficient alternative,” said Rekis.

Distance learning is not a substitute for live communication.

He recognized that distance learning is increasingly being practiced and will be used in the future as an additional form of teaching, but should not entirely replace live communication and contact lessons, especially in preschool, preschool and primary education .

Asta Ranonytė, deputy director of the National Education Agency (NSA), asked representatives of several schools to share specific experiences in a videoconference-reflection “How do we organize the educational process in June?”. A. Ranonytė noted that for the second consecutive year, June becomes challenging.

“Those challenges, it must be recognized, are independent of us, coming from abroad. If last year we experienced the heat and the need to relocate the educational process, this year we have an attempt to return to the traditional educational process, after a long period of time, after distance learning, “he said.

During the live broadcast, Jolanta Navickaitė, Director of the Department of General Education of the Ministry of Education and Science, noted that at the beginning of the quarantine the educational community had to impact and solve endless problems, but the educators learned to talk about the problems and share experiences.

There are opinions that it is not time to go back to school in June. However, J. Navickaitė does not agree with this idea: he says that he is waiting for even a few weeks of intensive work. Elementary school graduates have completed the school year, and seniors will begin their vacation on June 19. At that time, the graduate exam session will begin.

“As we will live due to the September pandemic, a new challenge, everything can be. On the other hand, we have gained so much good experience that we cannot lose it, we have to integrate it into the educational process. We have to think about how we can use the advantages provided for distance education in the future in the future, “said J. Navickaitė optimistically.

June – focus on children from more socially sensitive settings

Rasa Agintienė, director of the Juodšiliai Šilo gym, admitted that she had encountered several problems.
– It has the status of a long gym, so the challenges follow one after another. “It is not surprising that we run all the programs, from preschool to high school. I want to be happy with the teachers: distance learning has shown what a mature and collegial team is,” R. Agintienė looked positively.

She noted the advantages of distance learning: Those students who are generally invisible in the classroom were noticed. There is another side: many students from Rome study in the gym, it was difficult to work remotely. However, an agreement was reached and cooperation was not interrupted. In June, the Roma will attend consultations and coordinated entry and exit options.

R. Agintienė did not hide that he managed to avoid further problems related to technologies: in September, the gym participated in the modernization program. Digital learning platforms were not new.

The Juodšiliai Šilo Gym plans to end the school year on June 18. Efforts will be made to ensure that all children actively participate in the educational process before the holidays, especially since the gym environment allows it to be implemented: the educational institution is surrounded by a six-hectare territory around the moors.

Jurgita Mackevičiūtė, the head of the department that organizes the education of the Juodšiliai Šilo gym, said that efforts will be made to guarantee various activities that ensure the needs of children, paying more attention to children from more socially sensitive environments. “I think June is a good time to develop a variety of children’s skills, not just knowledge. Students spent a lot of time in front of computers; It was also the time to strengthen the health and emotional state of children, “he emphasized.

What activities will take place? There will be a free two-week camp for beginners until June 18. The environment is safe, activities are planned outdoors. Juodšiliai Šilo Gymnasium is a member of the STEAM network. STEAM education (science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics) is comprehensive, focused on complex cognition of reality phenomena, application, and problem solving. “The activities will be carried out in a natural environment, because the values ​​of science and experimental education are important for the gym,” taught J. Mackevičiūtė.

There will be lessons, consultations, and project activities for students in grades 5-11. “We have chosen different paths, there is no single solution,” said the educator.

Live a real school life

According to her, a lot will depend on how the students managed to leave the programs, how the teachers managed to optimize the curriculum. Twelfth grade students have already completed the educational process, but there will be contact inquiries throughout June, according to the established schedule.

1280 students study at Garliava Jonučiai Progymnasium, one of the largest educational institutions in the country. There are up to 30 sets of classes 1-4; Classes 5-8 – 24 games. “We try to overcome challenges, we try to live a normal, comfortable, living, real and real school life. The inability to meet directly is not the obstacle that would prevent teachers from working creatively, ”said Audra Galvanauskienė, director of the progymnasium.

The work in June last year, according to the director, was planned and discussed in advance, helping to overcome the challenges that arose. “In June, we did not sit in the classrooms, it would have been difficult during the heat, our school was traveling, we transported the children everywhere. The lessons took place in churches, national and regional parks … The experimental activities benefited a lot to the students, they were real, the children acquired knowledge of skills, good emotions, “said A. Galvanauskienė.

This year’s activities were also discussed: mainly with teachers, the parent community and the social partners. “Our curriculum has changed minimally. Since the beginning of June, all non-formal education activities have been carried out: distance, life, we meet all the requirements, we protect everyone’s health,” said A. Galvanauskienė.

Looking out the window, she said she saw student-athletes: the field was full and the tech room had robotics classes, and the library was open all summer. “Teachers provide counseling to gifted students with special needs or difficulties in distance learning. Teachers are preparing to volunteer, they organize several camps, ”said the director of the progymnasium.