“I want my students to be intentional thinkers and to value learning above performance and grades,” says Nathan Lee, a math teacher at Shorewood High School. In a society that more commonly values achievements over efforts and is susceptible to “mindless” apps and activities, that’s quite an impressive endeavor.
Lee’s unique approach to teaching is rooted in a belief that building strong relationships with students fosters a sense of community which, in turn, helps students learn. While the ultimate goal is to teach math concepts, it is equally as important to Lee to help his students understand why things work, to create an environment where they can take lots of risks and learn from mistakes,and to help them find out their own strengths along the way. But how do you foster strong relationships and create a supportive learning environment in a remote classroom?
When the pandemic hit and schools in Washington transitioned to distance learning in early spring, Lee—like many other teachers in the region—set out to find the best ways he could continue to serve the needs of his students while not compromising on the quality of his teaching. One of the biggest challenges he faced with the transition to remote learning was getting real-time feedback from his students.
“When you ask ‘how are you doing?’ in a physical classroom, you get a response, but online, when 90% of students remove the camera and are on mute, that feedback diminishes and becomes much harder to gauge,” says Lee. In a traditional classroom, a teacher can sense anxiety in a person’s face, but in a distance model that becomes less visible. Yet, it is just as critical to ensure students are learning and not falling behind in class.
“Making classes more personal and talking about myself at the beginning of each class helps,” he admits. Adjusting lesson format and incorporating a blended learning strategy, such as “flipped classroom model,” have also been beneficial.
The flipped classroom model shifts the transfer of information from in-person lectures to online. It moves activities that would have traditionally been considered homework (or knowledge application) into the actual classroom. Major learning topics are pre-recorded, and students are initially introduced to them through videos, which allows them to control the pace, grants access if they miss a class and accounts for connectivity issues they may experience in a remote setting. Lessons (including virtual ones), on the other hand, permit small group discussions and focus on proactive assignments and progress checks. “By utilizing this model, I am able to check in with students regularly and provide additional support or comment on improvements needed to ensure that everyone stays on track,” says Lee.
Despite the physical distance, Lee’s students have remained engaged and collaborative during this time. “It’s been really rewarding to see my students build a community, sing happy birthday songs to each other and share small moments of unplanned humanity,” says Lee. Similarly, hearing that his teaching approach has been working has also brought him much joy this year. “I am constantly asking for feedback to be better and hearing my students say ‘you are perfect’ has been so fulfilling.”
It is undeniable that 2020 has brought disruption to everyone’s lives, including those of teachers and students alike. And, it is understandable that many parents are concerned about the effects that distance learning will have on their children’s future. Hence, one of the most valuable things that parents can do right now is to stay connected and communicate with teachers.
“Education is long-term,” says Lee. “It is important to get input from parents and students and to be transparent as much as possible. Offering suggestions can be so valuable to teachers as it is not always easy to see things online with no visuals or video,” he adds.
If there is one thing that we can be certain of in 2020, it is that with great Shoreline teachers, such as Lee, our youth is in great hands and will get through this time all right.
This story was published in December 2020 issue of Richmond Beach Community News