Since September, all Salem-Keizer Public Schools have been undergoing comprehensive distance education due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. A mix of distance and in-person learning is expected to start after Feb. 1 for all students in grades 4 through 12, however, this date may be subject to change.
All Salem-Keizer schools have been educating students online since March when school buildings were closed for in-person learning due to the pandemic. A makeshift, pass-fail grading system then being implemented for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year.
The district has created a new system that divides students into “cohorts” in which students attend classes on alternating days throughout the week while doing individual learning on the remaining days. The regular grading system has also been reimplemented on the A through F scale.
Some students have been able to easily adapt to the new system.
“Distance learning fits better with how I prefer to learn, as well as being a better preparation for college in terms of the lecture to homework format,” Owen Hoelter 21’ said.
However, this may not be true for all students at South. Various concerns have been brought up including a lack of internet access and inability to access a computer, which the district attempted to compensate for by providing Chromebook laptops to those who required one.
Teachers have also had some challenges adjusting to the new digital format, but seem to have managed.
“I would say the biggest challenge was learning how to manage and operate Zoom and Canvas as well as adjusting my curriculum to meet the distance learning platform,” Amy Gosney, a mathematics teacher at South, said.
Some subjects, such as english or math, where much of the work is can be done on paper or on Google Docs, can be easier to digitize than subjects like physical education or foods, which require physical movement that may be hard to track or require materials that may be harder to access at home.
“What do you do in Oregon when it’s raining and you live in an upstairs apartment? It’s pretty hard to do a workout without upsetting your neighbors. We have been fortunate to have had pretty good weather so far, but I think the winter will be much more challenging,” Coach Matthew Leichty said.
The International Baccalaureate [IB] program at South is also changing as uncertainties arise. However, IB is willing to work around some of the gray areas as South goes about its year.
“Since more than half of the world’s Diploma Program schools are United States public schools, IB has been well informed on the lack of technology access, loss of instructional time, and general stress and anxiety that students have been under,” IB Coordinator Jennifer Harris-Clippinger said.
Until at least Feb. 2 of 2021, or the beginning of the third quarter, distance learning will remain the standard for all students of grades 4 through 12. Before February, the district will decide whether or not to return to school, depending on if the coronavirus pandemic improves in Marion County or not.
