Distance learning has overtaken our educational field. We have had to adjust our teaching styles and classroom designs to be a virtual adventure, rather than a physical one. One of the most popular on-line classroom arena's is Zoom. Which at first, I must admit was a bit intimidating. Not the platform itself, which is actually easy to set up and maneuver, but the appearance of having less control.
In my class, during distance learning, we used it only once because there was a different platform connected to our school learning software. So I really haven't had a lot of time to play around with it. There are side chat features, share screen, play music etc. Plus you can mute all students and block certain accessible features. It's actually quite easy to set up, in order to maintain classroom behavior.
Today was our first day, of our elementary science summer camp. I have taught it for four years, in person. We have STEAM activities and lots of arts and crafts. It is a week long 1/2 day camp. Students really have fun. It is designed for in bound 4th and 5th graders so they can get a little fidgety but, it is a lot of fun.
Today is the first time we had the entire camp virtual. We spent a week, 7 hour days, putting all the supplies for 5 days (4 activities each) worth of supplies, in their own paper bag. And a giant Ziploc of daily supplies: tape, glue, scissors, measuring tape, duct tape etc. Plus 3 snacks per day. Then Saturday parents drove to the STEAM center where they picked up a bag for each day and their daily supply bag (6 total).
So today, they already had all the supplies for the week. I was a bit nervous on how this was going to work. 72 students, 4 breakout sessions, 4 teachers rotating from breakout to breakout, snack time etc. But, it went great. Today they created flip-books with a crystal forming paper tree, a solar oven, an LED circuit, and slime. It was a busy day indeed.
Each day this week I will be adding a blog-post about the days events and how I learned a little more about Zoom and virtual science camps. I am sure each day will bring new insight. Day one complete- four to go. I am excited to see all 72 students again tomorrow and to share the story of how Zoom and virtual learning can really be engaging, surprising and fun for kids and teachers alike.
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