Ep 2: TEACHING REMOTELY, LEARNING TOGETHER
David Bott

The incredible rate of change and adaptation in schooling
around the world, continues to be matched by a level of generosity and
willingness to share that is so uplifting.
Last week, I had the privilege of interviewing Steve
McLuckie (Executive Principal) and Victoria McLuckie (Director of Learning and
Wellbeing) from the Australian International School (AIS) in Sharjah, UAE. This
conversation was the second episode of Teaching
Remotely, Learning Together, a series that involves interviews with leading
educators from around the world as they share key lessons learned from their
school’s experience of delivering high-quality education during the pandemic.
Throughout the interview, Steve and Victoria share key
lessons learned from their school’s experience of continuing to deliver a
world-class wellbeing and academic programme remotely during the pandemic.
You can watch the interview here.
Here are six key takeaways from the conversation that our
team has been discussing:
1. The number one focus has been the
wellbeing of the community.
Connection and relationships mean
everything – they are the foundation of the school community and of learning.
2. Academically, the priority has been on quality
over quantity – ‘decluttering’ the curriculum.
AIS has zeroed in on the questions of: What,
exactly, does each child need right now and how can we best support
those needs? This has led to reduced lesson times, elimination of summative
assessment in primary years (lower school), and significantly reduced homework
loads in high school.
3. Optional lessons to nurture
differentiation!
In primary years (ages 5-12), Maths,
English and Arabic are core and compulsory, whereas other learning areas are
optional. This, combined with opportunities for live and pre-recorded
interaction, enables a flexible approach that is family-friendly and not
time-dependent.
4. Supporting community wellbeing is both
serious and fun.
Regular check-in structures for teachers,
with those living off-campus receiving a weekly check-in phone call from the
Principal. Informal online weekly student ‘drop-in sessions’ to hear feedback
about successes and challenges. Other opportunities to elevate a sense of fun
and connection include: ‘Tissue-Box Challenge’, teacher blooper reel, celebratory
teacher ‘shout-outs’.
5. Remote learning has allowed us to
challenge our fundamental ways of thinking about education.
Traditional structures and approaches have
evolved in recent weeks and although we are looking forward to getting back to ‘normal’
some of the accelerated innovations will remain.
6. AIS’s 2019-2020 overarching theme
(launched 6 months prior to the pandemic!) was: ‘Connection before content’.
Whilst remote learning has shined a spotlight
on the importance of human connection in schooling – and wellbeing more
broadly – the best schools have always recognised that schools are, more than
anything, about relationships.
We are very grateful that Kellett School (Episode 1) and AIS (Episode 2) have been so
gracious in sharing some of their remote schooling journey with us. Episode 3
of Teaching Remotely, Learning Together is a ‘home-grown’ interview
featuring Geelong Grammar’s Chris McNamara (Vice Principal - Global Learning
and Innovation) and Rhiannon McGee (Head of Positive Education). Chris and
Rhiannon have helped lead Geelong Grammar’s remote learning response and will
share practical strategies, stories, and lessons learned.
David Bott
David Bott is the Associate Director of the Institute of Positive Education. David has been involved in training thousands of teachers from hundreds of schools around the world in designing, implementing and sustaining individual and whole-school approaches to wellbeing.