On March 9, our director of program, Mackenzie, shared the Distance Learning Plan that would guide our school in the event of a closure due to the Covid-19 coronavirus. At that time, we hoped that the plan would be an extra precaution that we wouldn’t have to use. Now, a few weeks later, the Brightworks building is dark; students, families, and staff have been quarantining at home; and schools in the San Francisco Bay Area are on lockdown at least until May 1st as social distancing becomes our greatest defense against the virus.

Our school communities function best when we’re all in the same place, seeing each others’ faces, being together as we explore and learn. But Brightworks believes in agility. When things took a turn from in-person to on-screen, it was just another real-world challenge that takes real tools and hands-on learning to solve together.

In the Distance Learning Plan, Mackenzie wrote:

“We’ve deliberately chosen the term Distance Learning as opposed to labels like “online learning” or “virtual schooling” that are technology-centered. This reflects our conviction that quality learning can happen at a distance without students spending the whole day online. We are committed to continuing our core education values of honoring student agency, and creating authentic and meaningful learning experiences even from afar. Our goal is to create a distance learning plan that moves forward the learning goals of the band, maintains a sense of community, and is sustainable for collaborators, students, and families.”

We started our Distance Learning program last Monday March 16, after two days of at-home collaborator prep and a few weeks before of in-school prep with the kids. We have focused on two very important elements: offering students something interesting to do and think about, and fostering a feeling of community and connection. Above all, too, we think about the importance of being kind to ourselves and others as the whole world adjusts, grieves, and settles into new habits during this unforeseen situation that will extend for an unknown amount of time.

We find ourselves now getting into the swing of all things distance: Zoom meetings, learning the difference between “synchronous" and “asynchronous”, check-ins on Hangouts, explorations posted on Google Classroom, the wonders of Minecraft get-togethers, and the hundreds of generous people in the world offering their art, stories, and provocations to children across the world. Our collaborators have boldly stepped up to the challenge of conducting their usual arc curriculum content online, and have offered daily check-ins, tasks, and investigations as the Song arc goes digital. Check out the samples of schedules that our superhero collaborators offer the kids on a daily basis.

Distance Learning

Garnet and Topaz Bands (5-7 year olds)

Azure Band (7-9 year olds)

Tangerine Band (9-10 year olds)

Jade Band (10-12 year olds)

Amethyst Band (11-12 year olds)

Indigo Band (13-14 year olds)

Magenta Band (High School)