Engagement Spikes for Ohio Teachers Doing Remote School Differently
Community Based LearningHigh Quality Teaching

Engagement Spikes for Ohio Teachers Doing Remote School Differently

By July 24, 2020 No Comments

As schools across the country closed their doors last March in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many districts were faced with a widening of the achievement gap compounded by unequal access to technology and being forced to implement remote learning practices practically overnight. In the face of this crisis, several schools in Ohio discovered student engagement and achievement actually increased when implementing our radically different teaching method.

A core component of the method is challenging student teams to solve real problems for organizations in their communities. At a time of extreme isolation and social distancing, working with a team of peers on solving something for fellow community members gave students a renewed sense of agency and an opportunity to make an impact. Teachers had seen success in using these methods to develop 21st Century skills in their classrooms before COVID hit, and were impressed with how well it translated to the virtual space. This video shows how educators were able to foster deep learning and social-emotional development under unprecedented conditions and across urban and rural settings with varying socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.

For all of us coping with the uncertainty of what the fall will bring, we can find hope in these examples of what’s possible for students whether attending school in person or remotely.

Alison Tanker

Author Alison Tanker

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