CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- A suburban high school didn’t miss a beat when the Governor ordered the schools closed. They made a smooth transition to e-learning and students are in virtual classes for a full day.
“What do we think is going to happen next?” a teacher at St. Laurence High School in Burbank asked.
And her students chimed in.
“I think someone is going to get hurt,” one said and others agreed.
They were discussing a novel in a virtual classroom.
All of the students have iPads and they’re using Zoom, among other technology, to continue with classes.
“The technology side of things has been a smooth transition for us,” said Dr. Brian Gilbert, the Assistant Principal of Curriculum and Instruction, because, he said, they’ve been experimenting with e-learning for three years, and at this point, everyone is comfortable with the technology.
“The students are able to talk with one another, they’re able to engage with their teachers, everyone can see one another, so it really does have that feel of being in a classroom, we just all happen to be at our houses right now, because of the circumstances,” he told us in a FaceTime interview.
He said parents were especially excited about seeing what their children are doing.
“We’ve received nothing but positive reviews about the level of engagement. And even during this time when I think it’s difficult for all of us, in that we feel isolated because of the shelter in place, the students have really talked about how great it is to be engaging with their teachers, engaging with their fellow classmates, and to continue having that kind of personal experience while all of this is going on," he said.
They have seven 40-minute periods, with breaks and a lunch period to get away from the screens.
And Dr. Gilbert said attendance is 99-percent.
Listen to the full interview below: