“We’ve become a pioneer” Remote learning changes snow days, education in MSBSD

The COVID-19 pandemic forever changed the look and feel of classrooms for students around the world. One positive to emerge from the pandemic was the implementation and utilization of remote learning for the students.

Recognizing the change in education delivery, the Matanuska Susitna Borough School District (MSBSD) began providing every student with a Chromebook to enhance their learning. At the beginning of the current school year, students were issued their own Chromebook.

Students in grades 3-12 transport their Chromebook to and from school. Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd-grade students store their Chromebooks in their classroom. Assigned Chromebooks will remain with the student throughout the school year and summer, and all 3rd and 8th graders will be assigned a new Chromebook.

“We’ve become a pioneer of remote learning,” said MSBSD Superintendent Dr. Randy Trani.

Implementing remote learning did hit some bumps along the way. During the pandemic, teachers had to scramble to create lessons adapted to delivering education online, parents had to don a tutor/teacher hat while often working from home themselves, and students went from interacting daily with teachers, aides, and fellow students to trying to learn on their own, sometimes without the support of the classroom. Now, post-pandemic, many students might not get to truly experience the joy of a snow day.

It was the snow days during the heavy snowfalls last month that the pioneering spirit of remote learning was evident in the Borough. While the Anchorage School District (ASD) had cancelled school for 5 days, MSBSD went to remote learning.

“I believe it was better than the alternative of making up days in May, after testing when students, teachers, and their families may already have plans, vacations,” said Dr. Trani.

Not everyone has been happy with the decision for remote learning. For Jesslyn Reed, mother of four, her oldest are teens while her youngest are nearly 8-year-old twins, and whose husband is currently deployed, trying to oversee the remote learning can be challenging. Especially as she works from home, remotely for a company in North Dakota.

“My husband is deployed, I’m working about 50 hours a week, and running my circus...I have to help them with every step. I become the teacher, which I am not paid to be,” she says.

“We know that remote learning is not the same as in-person learning, but we will continue to strive to improve that experience for students,” said Dr. Trani.

The success of using remote learning during the December snowstorms has other school districts in Alaska looking to MSBSD for guidance. ASD, Kenai School District, and Juneau School District have all inquired about adopting the MSBSD model as it provides at least some real time learning rather than adding on days at the end of the year.

“They want to know how it’s working, what we’ve done, looking at the components we are using.”

One tool that Dr. Trani utilizes for improvements are surveys sent out to parents after remote learning events. MSBSD will be surveying parents after the December remote learning event is complete to collect feedback.

Of course, there is room to grow. Dr. Trani said that they are exploring remote learning centers, especially for younger students. “It would be 1 or 2 sites where young kids could use the Chromebooks with staff monitoring.”

In the meantime, students issued a Chromebook are reminded to take care of the technology, following guidelines when utilizing one of these devices. Students must comply with the MSBSD responsible use policy, which parents must sign off.

Students are expected to keep their Chromebook safe, secure, charged, and in good working order. In addition, students must notify their teacher or librarian if their Chromebook is broken or fails to work properly.

Students will also be expected to not only keep their Chromebooks charged and in good working order, but are advised to bring them to school fully charged and ready to use. This means charging the device nightly and leaving the cord at home.

“This isn’t perfect, but I believe it is getting better. Students are developing on-line skills, independence, and for some, improving their learning experience.”