Teaching is a profession of passion more so than it is a job. For those on the front lines of education, this passion permeates all layers of their lives, the social, emotional and at times physical lives. No longer is holding the attention of students for a prescribed period of time the biggest obstacle being faced in schools. Today, the role of the teacher includes functions such as nurse, therapist, coach, parent and yes, teachers. Layered on the growing role of the teacher is the layer a mask wearing mandated pandemic has added to the need to educate the youth. 

Administrators are engrossed with all things operational, the changes in teaching styles, moving from brick and mortar school, to hybrid to 100% online; the added impact of closures, both short term and long term on student learning as well as the social emotional impact on the student and the safety of both students, families and staff. Parents are aware more now than before where their student is (or is not) academically and  the integral role teachers play in the lives of students. Administrators are also cognizant of impact of the pandemic on student’s academic growth. The work to keep students and teachers safe and in buildings saturate every minute for administrators as they navigate this new challenge of building the relationship between home and school. Without the support of home, schools has been and will continue to struggle to meet the needs of students.

In order to best meet the needs of our students and families, schools must address the equity within (or not) the community and address several concepts that can and will challenge the ability to provide the education all children deserve. 

• Consistency is the first aspect that must be addressed. Consistency in teaching style (hybrid, in-person or virtual); consistency in teaching platform (google classroom, zoom, paper and pencil) must be adhered to. Moving through different styles and platforms causes confusion for both students and families. In addition, for teachers new to a specific learning community the change in teaching platform also provides an additional unnecessary stressor.

• Communication is integral for all stakeholders in the community. There are many ways to reach parents today – social media, phone calls, emails and snail mail. Parents want to know what is happening with their students when they are not with them and in real time. A weekly newsletter on the happenings of the week is one way to keep parents in the loop. For more urgent messages (around COVID, health matters and or closures) emails and phone blasts prove to be the most direct ways to meet the needs of the family. Use of social media is also immediate but may not be appropriate for all content.  When communicating with families, reducing the amount of pedagogical jargon is paramount.

• Building relationships is not only the responsibility of the administrator but also that of the teacher. Administrators should encourage and provide opportunities for teachers to make a personal connection with their students and parent/family. This can be accomplished directly by phone calls or indirectly with the biweekly advisory newsletter or if virtual, inviting parents to be a part of the class by providing their own log in for easy access. Flexibility is the key here. There are parents who are working different hours in order to meet the needs of the student, therefore it is important to ascertain what is the best manner of contact for the family. In addition it is important to understand that teachers and administrators can also be parents. Giving grace to all stakeholders as we build relationships to benefit the student can take time. 

• The learning is important. Educating the whole child is important. Classroom learning represents the primary function of schools. In order to accomplish this during this pandemic, schools need to be able to create an environment that is welcoming to both the student and family. For students in brick and mortar buildings, welcoming students at the door is one way to accomplish this. For the students who are virtual, schools need to understanding and downplay student’s desire not to be on camera, be welcoming of parents nearby or even on camera during class, be inclusive and accepting of the occasional home visitor. Many older students have responsibilities for younger siblings or elder family members. Finding alternative ways in which to support students outside of the traditional learning time and class setting is another way to meet the needs of the student. Scaffolding lessons provides opportunities for growth and or remediation. Teachers can prepare teaching notes, videos and tutorials for students both in buildings and virtual to support students and families. 

• Providing resources for learning, for families, for student support is a great way to lead a building, build relationships and help students meet academic success in all environments. Having the support of families increases the success rates of students. These resources can be school based, where teachers create tutorials for practice or external, where organizations can be identified and made available for advancement. These organizations can include but are not limited to resources like food banks, social/emotional support and tutoring. Schools can offer virtual meetings for parents at varying times to meet the differing needs of families; ways to showcase student success/growth by hosting family night (in person or virtual) or meeting time for parents to share. 

One hundred and four years ago the world experienced the Spanish Flu. That Spanish Flu pandemic is the closest example to the current pandemic – COVID 19.  Because the majority of people living have not lived through a pandemic as seen in the last two years, there is no guideline for schools to follow in such situations. Therefore schools, administrators, teachers, parents and students all have to collaborate to create an inclusive learning environment. Celebrating the successes in the classroom (both students and teachers) is one way to increase participation and support for all. Reflection of strategies tried, successful or not is important for growth as a community. If anyone can change, blend, grow society, it will be schools. After all, it is in schools that we create community and supply society. 

“One of the great things about EDUCAUSE 2021 is the number of people you’ll meet from all industries. Main Course PHL had a great conversation Scott Dorn, Executive Vice President of Spectrum Industries about Gaming here in Philadelphia, its future here in our city and how we can use gaming to enact change in Education”.

“Spectrum has been in business for over 53 years with education being our largest market. Gaming and Esports is a large focus for our organization as we manufacture competition esports desks, chairs, collaboration/meeting furniture, shoutcasting (streaming) stations and console gaming solutions. Our newest product is a console gaming hub that stores and secures gaming consoles, controllers, headsets and can mount a display. As a mobile solution it can move around the room or into other spaces. With most esports programs and gaming clubs having flashy logos and colors, we try to offer products that can support branding. With the amount of visibility esports and gaming programs have, it is in their best interest to keep their brand in front of the audience, whether in-person or viewing over a live stream. Spectrum designs our products based on direct feedback from our school partners. Our 14 regionally located and 15 internal team members, work with a network of national and local technology companies that can assist in providing comprehensive gaming solutions that best fit the needs of the school or program.”

– Scott Dorn, Executive Vice President of Spectrum Industries, Inc.  

Question 1: What problem have you solved since the onset of the pandemic? 

Solved? It is hard to say we have solved this problem, but we are committed to educating others on it. Beyond a product offering, Spectrum is steadfast in addressing negative stigma and perceptions surrounding video games in education and actively promotes the benefits and opportunities that esports and gaming can present for students. Developing relationships with their teammates, collaborating and communicating during competitions, planning for opponents, facing adversity and responding, and having gaming mentors in programs are all real benefits. Additionally, the supporting roles and responsibilities a gaming organization creates, offer real-world experience. Many organizations have students assist with computer/technology and audio/video maintenance and support, lighting, event planning, marketing, coaching, and mentoring, and many others. All of these are elements that are attractive to future employers and can help define desired career pathways. There are still too many folks with negative perceptions.  However, with our advocacy efforts, and those of many other individuals and organizations in the space, we hope to continue to address and limit them.

Question 2: What problem are you still solving that’s been presented to you by the population you serve?

Spectrum has heard from many schools that wish to add esports or gaming but they don’t believe they have the space to add the program. Each institution is different in the way they on board an esports program or gaming club. Many have leveraged existing computer labs, media centers, digital classrooms or even laptops and charging carts to kickstart their programs. When doing this it is key that the area is able to be reliably scheduled so it can be used and dedicated to esports and gaming during practice and competition times. When sharing space, that can be difficult. Others have carved out an esports or gaming space from underutilized spaces that may not be large enough for a traditional classroom. While not perceived as ideal initially, these spaces can allow a program to start and flourish. After seeing the reaction from students and positive outcomes, it is always possible to scale up a program. You can start small and still dream big. To help Spectrum has developed a free planning service. We can help schools visualize their space through 2D and 3D designs which can help administrators and all stakeholders see the potential.

Question 3: What question do you have for educators you’d like answered?

The big question is simply “how can we help?” That said, we would like to better understand the challenges being faced when trying to onboard a scholastic esports or gaming program. What questions are educators, coaches and volunteers being asked that they cannot answer? What objections are esports and gaming proponents faced with? There is an amazing network of educators who are passionate about esports and gaming. Let’s get those challenges identified, and work with that network to help address them!

For more information, visit www.spectrumfurniture.com

When we came upon PowerNotes, it was the puzzle like pieces of their display that drew us in. Excited, we jumped right in. What is PowerNotes and how can we leverage this technology in the classroom?

PowerNotes is the first online research platform that not only saves what’s important but also keeps it organized for you.  We developed PowerNotes to harness the power of the internet and the range of digital content. There’s nothing else like it in the market. PowerNotes is the first online research platform that not only saves what’s important but also keeps your notes organized. The goal is to teach effective digital reading, annotation, organization, and source tracking processes to develop better research and writing skills.  

Question 1: What problem have you solved since the onset of the pandemic? What problem have you solved since the onset of the pandemic? Way before the pandemic, we were focusing on streamlining the research to the writing process. One of the key things we built was a real time feedback component that allows teachers the ability to comment and notify a student of a needed change both synchronously and asynchronously. Usually, a professor will let you know later in the process of research and writing the needed edits vs now being able to do it early in the process, cutting out time and mistakes.

Question 2: What problem are you still solving that’s been presented to you by the population you serve? As educational content has migrated from print to digital, research, reading, and study techniques have changed dramatically. Eliminating the time to research and construct papers efficiently is the ongoing problem. We’re improving the digital reading experience by streamlining the process of gaining data, while we handle the details that come after reviewing content. 

Question 3: What question do you have for educators you’d like answered? How do you find resources for your students, the right ones, that are actually useful and move the needle forward? There are plenty of companies here that do the same thing, so how do you determine which one is right for you? How do I know if I need these things?

For more information, visit www.PowerNotes.com – The best way to gather, organize, annotate, and keep track of your research.