Eastlife Autumn 2020

The Digital
Classroom
Written by Johanna Sale, vice principal,
Impington International College
www.impingtoninternational.org.uk
The disruption that the Coronavirus pandemic brought to schools and their students
was undeniable. Following school closures, we all had to act fast to ensure that we
could provide a seamless transition to home schooling for the benefit of our students.
The period of lockdown has given schools a great opportunity to adapt and use a
number of new technologies to ensure that everyone is connected and welcomed.
Through the use of collaborative technology tools, like Microsoft Teams, we have been
able to host pre-recorded and live lessons, with both students and parents, undertake
group work and 1-2-1 sessions. Even the most informal functionalities, like the chat
space, have their uses and can be used to mimic the day to day interactions that before
would have happened in the classroom.
For some students either joining a new school or going back to school this September,
they can expect a large part of their induction to take place virtually. As always, it is
our job, as teachers and mentors, to continue to make sure that students feel like they
belong to a community; reminding them that they have support and are cared for
and we will be ensuring that their needs are appropriately met. Our student cohort at
Impington International College is from nearly 20 countries, so unfortunately not all of
them will be able to physically join or re-join us, in person, from next month.
The period of lockdown
has given schools a
great opportunity to
adapt and use a number
of new technologies to
ensure that everyone is
connected and welcomed
But the use of technology to virtually induct should not have negative connotations for
students and parents. Technology gives students the opportunity to start the academic
year with confidence; they can undertake course and staff introductions, meet their
class mates in virtual “coffee rooms” and book in personal slots with experienced
members of staff to run through any queries that they have about the back to school
transition.
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