At Gateway College and Career Academy we strive everyday. Just like you do. We surveyed our teachers to hear how they think it’s going online — what is and is not working. They answered.
What are the bennies of distance learning, really? What do teachers think would impact your online success? Your teachers offer organizational suggestions, positive reinforcement and food for thought. Read on to see if you agree.
In your opinion, what are the benefits of distance learning?
GCCA offers live virtual lectures.
You can fit learning around your home and work life.
You can choose to learn asynchronously or synchronously.
Students are able to revisit class information at any time through class recordings. All class recordings and homework assignments are posted in the Canvas Learning Management System.
Students can easily monitor their progress, grades, what work they have completed and due dates.
If you tend to be anxious in a traditional school setting, you may thrive in this environment.
The chat feature allows opportunity for more student participation.
Students do not have to worry about the commute time or transportation concerns.Many of our students use public transportation to commute to RCC and or live outside of Riverside.
What are you able to do better as a teacher in a distance learning format than you could in an in-person learning format?
The online format — using the learning management system Canvas — prepares our students for RCC classes. It’s the same system there!
We have discovered our ability to adapt under pressure. This has birthed staff innovation and creativity.
How do you see, share with, and hear from your students?
We engage students through our synchronous classrooms, in Zoom, in the chatroom, in Canvas with our digital discussion boards.
Counselors still check in and meet with students regularly, either over Zoom, reminder text messages, or phone calls.
Students can visit campus to pick up their books, school supplies, and lunches.
What recommendations would you give students to help them be successful in distance learning?
Be patient with themselves, their teachers, and others.
This is a learning process for everyone to go fully online.
This is a new experience that we are all going through together, and we need to be there for each other.
Do your best to ensure that you have (to the best of your ability) a study space, stable WiFi Internet, and a place to get your work done. And if you need any of these things — let us assist!
What do you do to differentiate learning in a distance learning format?
Tasks are varied for students depending on their learning style (for instance, some students can orally demonstrate a skillset while others prefer to do so in writing).
Some students work asynchronously while others work synchronously and some students work in a large group while others work one-on-one in smaller virtual rooms.
What are you doing to build connection and foster a sense of belonging online together?
Our GCCA students share their values with each other and build community through discovered common interests.
We partner with Life Source to offer weekly opportunities for students to connect outside of class.
Current students — ask your counselor for the link to join us Thursday’s at 2:30!
About Gateway
Gateway College and Career Academy (formerly Gateway to College) is an early college public high school launched in 2004, as an answer to the growing number of students who were disconnected from their education and not on track to obtain their high school diplomas. Our highly qualified teaching and counseling staff supports and guides our students on their educational pathways, establishing a bond of trust and the motivation to make it to the finish line.
Riverside City College is an ideal partner, helping our students transition to college education via concurrent enrollment in GCCA and RCC, and giving access to all of the college’s resources and supports. You belong here!