Introduction

The Covid-19 Pandemic of 2020 has upended our education system and has forced us to rethink curriculum delivery by utilizing modern technologies, to effectively support students learning. At the same time, this needs to be done while keeping one another safe from the virus. Now that we have progressed to the summer break of 2020 we need to begin thinking about what education will look like upon return to school in the fall. 

The Complexity of it All

The myriad of planning that must take place is seemingly overwhelming. As a cohort in our EDCI 656 class  we have narrowed down a few overarching outcomes to consider. These include but are definitely not limited to: home and family connections, student engagement and social relationships, mental health and well being for everyone, Academic integrity, fostering a sense of community, curriculum delivery method, teacher and student collaboration, and finally authentic assessment techniques. Each of these overarching themes contain many important aspects that must be considered to succeed in educating our youth in the fall. 

As I reflect on the last few months I am pleased that some of the work has already been done. Collaborating with colleagues day after day about delivery methods, and the effectiveness of distance lessons, has given us a starting place to begin this planning. We have also spent a copious amount of time learning and teaching standardized software to our students to give us a platform to establish an online community that allows for a somewhat stable teaching and learning space. 

Conclusion

Perhaps my greatest concern at this juncture is not knowing what education will look like in the fall. Will classes be back in full as they have traditionally been? Will classes be a mixture of synchronous and asynchronous lessons with limited students allowed in the building? Or will classes be a blend of the two? Regardless of how the future is present to us, it is a wise idea to have a tentative teaching and learning plan in place, and I am grateful for the time and support to work towards one.