Online learning has been an interesting experience. We're on the cusp of returning to a buzzing campus with 2,000 others tomorrow bright and early, forewarned that an army of volunteers will be temperature checking everyone entering the various gates and that we'll be hand-sanitized as well if we pass the temperature check. Apparently, according to the administration, the place is so squeaky clean after weeks of cleaning and purifying, that you could eat your dinner off any or every gleaming surface!
We feel, judging by the feedback and assessment data we’ve
already received that most of our lessons worked well.The secret seems to come down to two factors. The first
being simplicity in terms of instructions and the second being familiarity with
platforms being used. Initially, we spent an inordinate amount of time working
through each lesson and splitting it into workable units, manageable in terms
of both time and complexity. We then sought to differentiate the tasks as much
as possible and provide variety while targeting different skills. After we had a workable, varied and appropriately
challenging lesson, we then made sure we worked and re-worked the instructions
so there would be little or no confusion. We judged our success by work
completion to an appropriate level(excellent) and by how few clarifying
questions we received (very few).
So, all in all, we feel slightly triumphant and justified in the way we've set the kids up for success, even if we're not there holding their hands through the whole process. The school's mission statement alluding to 21st century learners able to adapt to a changing world has been played out on tablets and phones and laptops all over Taipei in the last three weeks as kids from all three divisions have tapped into various platforms and resources that their teachers have provided. So, we're patting ourselves and the kids on the back: it's been an eye-opener and a whirlwind of different tactics and methods but ultimately, very successful.
After our morning session, we've continued to challenge the river dyke promenade each day. The sun is essentially directly overhead and in the last four weeks (including CNY), the temperatures have graduated from windy and squally and occasionally damp to today's beating sun turning up the heat and searing exposed skin: I'm a glowing pink on the neck and arms after today's foray into the "wild"!
We walk briskly for an hour or so to make the circuit and, along the way, we run into all sorts of characters (almost literally at times!)
The oldies who seem to believe they have a divine right to take up as much of the pathway as they like are not the only ones we need to dodge, go single-file for, or squeeze up against the handrails to avoid collisions. There seem to be more than a fair share of our mentally challenged brethren, along with people with associated or separate physical disabilities. There are others who walk along oblivious to others, slapping themselves and releasing strange sounds by mouth. Yet another subset of romantic couples link arms and walk side-by-side without budging: apparently their love-struck demeanour allows them the right to bulldoze others off the path, or force them into a single file!
So trafficking the path at certain popular times is often fraught with annoyance, but the sights and sounds keep us entertained each day. Cass spots the turtles sunning themselves and the egrets prancing, and we both admire the fashion plates wearing full black puffy jackets while we're hot in shorts and t-shirts! There's even occasionally the strange dichotomy of little kids on retractable leads, while primped and gussied dogs ride in prams....it has to be seen to be believed! Anyway, not a day goes by where we don't see any number of unusual or bizarre sights.
Wish us luck as we re-enter the world tomorrow!
Photos: belatedly, some shots from Cassy's last book club get-together, a "sticky" of impressive vintage that didn't quite make it, a treasure trove of discarded phones time-lining the last 18 years or so, shots from the path and finally, a shot of our vacuum cleaner's filter loitering on the deck below our back verandah. Cassy bashes it to clean it and it flew from her hands to land below: luckily Mr. Lee managed to retrieve it for us!