May 22nd, 2020

Connecting from a Distance

This video series showcases Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) educators who have adjusted their typical in-person classes to a distance learning setting.

Over the past few months, we have seen our students and staff adjust from face-to-face classroom learning environments to the current reality of distance learning. With so many unique and varied teaching styles, we thought we would take the opportunity to explore what distance learning looks like through the eyes of educators and students throughout our board.

This week, we talked to Shawn Boyes, a construction technology teacher at Huron Heights Secondary School (HHSS). He shares how he has shifted a traditional hands-on, in-class course to allow his students to do, see and explore, safely, in their own homes.

Traditional tech and trades are hard to imagine being taught remotely, but Boyes has used this opportunity to reinvent the way he delivers the essential learnings while keeping it timely and fun.

Communicating with our families

Curious about how you can get in touch with your teacher or school? With distance learning, it is more important than ever that we continue to nurture these relationships through open and ongoing communication between home and school. Refer here for information on how to get in touch.

Want to stay connected with what’s happening in the WRDSB? Join us for our next live-streamed Board Meeting on Monday, May 25, starting at 7:00 pm. More information on our Board Meetings.

We want to hear from you

As school closures and distance learning continue, we are working hard to find ways to continue to support you and ensure you’re getting the information you need. To help us, we invite you to fill out this survey. We look forward to compiling the data and will share back what we’ve heard from you along with the next steps.

WRDSB@Home

As part of our ongoing efforts to support and improve the distance learning experience for our students and their families, we will be reorganizing the daily at-home activities. It will be easier to find new at-home activities focused on what you are hoping to learn.

  • At-home activities will now be organized into sub-categories, depending on focus or theme
  • Under each section, a “What’s New?” category will be created, where you’ll find the newest activities in each area of focus (Literacy, Math, Well-being, etc.)
  • The newest activities will be at the top
    • Content will be organized so that the newest at-home activities are at the top, making them easier to find

Tech@Home

You are also invited to check out a growing online resource for families and students: Tech@Home. This website contains resources to help students and families troubleshoot technical problems they may be experiencing. Stay tuned for more topics – the Tech@Home site will continue to grow to support your distance learning needs.

Tech at home

Thank you for your continued collaboration and we look forward to connecting with you again in a week’s time.