Can you imagine a day where everything is regimented and rigid? The laundry must be completed at a certain time.  The blankets must be folded one way.  The dog can be outside for a specific number of seconds. 

 

We need some flexibility in our day to day lives. Naturally, that same flexibility is necessary in the classroom. Flexible learning is an approach to teaching and learning that adapts to the diverse needs, preferences, and circumstances of students. It includes variability in time, location, learning paths, content and technology. In a flexible learning model, students must demonstrate responsibility and organization. PA Virtual Charter School is adamant about student success. It ensures that students have the tools they need to succeed in this flexible learning environment. Tools including personalized pacing, support, computer programs and teacher collaboration.

 

The Benefits of Flexibility in Learning

TikTok's and Reels certainly appeal to our visual learning styles, but do you know the other learning style categories that students may fall into? Students may demonstrate more success using visual, auditory, reading & writing, and/or kinesthetic approaches to learning. Technology allows us to reach all four of these learning styles in an efficient manner. At PA Virtual Charter School students can work at their own pace through asynchronous lessons and engage in a variety of auditory, visual and written activities. During synchronous class sessions, students also have the opportunity to engage their various learning styles. Teachers will employ a plethora of visual and auditory activities, as well as the opportunity for hands-on engagement. Students will find that when their specific learning style is catered to, their work becomes far more efficient and meaningful to them. Students can balance their extracurricular passions, family life and academics as they engage in the flexible learning model. By engaging in this balance, students are preparing for their post secondary life. This includes an ability to work independently and efficiently at a task. They can turn that efficiency into time management skills and a responsibility to fulfill obligations. Whether it be in the college classroom or workforce, students that are aware of their learning style will be able to think metacognitively about how they can best perform. 

 

 

The Importance of Structure Within Flexibility

Okay, we don’t want to do the laundry at the same time everyday. But, we should probably get that pants load washed fairly routinely. Routines and schedules matter in both our everyday lives and the school environment.  The predictability within the day can also contribute to our effectiveness as learners. Adhering to these schedules allows us to quickly recall the timing of assigned tasks, and the overall flow of content knowledge. It permits a seamless balance between freedom and accountability within a flexible learning environment. PA Virtual Charter School utilizes the Sapphire portal to ensure students have access to their schedules. The range of google applications within their chromebooks allows for the ease of time management.  

 

  •  Students can utilize Google Keep to generate notes, reminders and compile screenshots. Students can even create voice memos within the program.

  • Google Calendar is a great way to label student schedules and provide auditory and visual reminders of class times and tasks. 

  • Google Tasks helps generate to do lists that are synced with Gmail and google calendar. 

  • Students may be interested in seeking additional programs that offer virtual reminders and organizers. These programs include Jira, a project management software, or Whiteboard.chat, an interactive whiteboard.



How PA Virtual Supports Students in Staying on Track

I don’t know about you, but I would be severely lost without my friends and family. We need other people to help us stay on track and maintain our enthusiasm. PA Virtual Charter School provides those integral individuals to support learners through their flexible learning path. Certified teachers will communicate and collaborate with students. Weekly reminders, checklists and newsletters are just a few processes that teachers employ. They provide guidance with assignment completion and submissions with an opportunity to ask questions during office hours. Students at PA Virtual Charter School must have a learning coach. This parent or guardian oversees their assignments and work. It is integral that these learning coaches model and maintain responsible classroom practices.  Support programs are available throughout the elementary, middle, and high schools. These programs include tutoring, small group opportunities and extra homework help sessions when needed. Opportunities for learning coach support are also available through groups and mentors. The virtual setting provides additional assistance through online platform. PA Virtual Charter School utilizes the Blackboard platform and K12 curriculum. Blackboard classrooms are built by the students’ teachers. It offers email and login reminders regarding overdue assignments and tests. The K12 curriculum will also offer reminders, along with a pacing guide to ensure consistent completion of coursework.    

 

Teaching Students Self-Management Skills

We all walk around with a couple goals in mind.  Why not help our students develop goals too?  Self management skills are integral to school and career success. Start by helping students set SMART goals (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and timely). Have students start small with daily or weekly goals. You can have visual aids assist them with the process, such as charts, whiteboards, journals or progressive coloring sheets. As the goals become more complex, students can see where to break them down into smaller stages. Learning coaches should praise any efforts and successes, as well as model proper goal setting skills themselves.  

 

 

Building independence and responsibility sets students up for lifelong success. There should be daily independence habits engrained in your students routine.  Have your student set their alarm each night, assist them in reviewing the goals or tasks for the next day, and demonstrate how to check that prior items were completed.  They can show responsibility by making their own lunch, engaging in a specific household chore or assisting a sibling through assignments.  Students tend to demonstrate an internal sense of confidence when they complete independent, responsible tasks. This token of confidence translates immensely when approaching new or challenging concepts. If something becomes too difficult, help students ask for help. It’s vital that we raise students that know both independence and trust. Students can schedule a conference with a teacher, attend office hours or format a well written email to request any kind of assistance.

 

Balancing Flexibility with Accountability

We all learned about clear expectations with Amelia Bedelia.  Teachers are well versed in their need to be clear and specific when explaining student expectations.  This is demonstrated in the display of their lesson goals which can be viewed in their PlanBook via Blackboard.  They will also set these key details in any homework reminder slides during the day.  Students will begin to notice trends in assessments as the year progresses. These regular, systematic assessments allow for predictability and accountability throughout the school year.  While these may begin to look predictable, it is integral that students remain alert to any forms of communication from their teachers.  

 

Email should be checked for updates each morning. If the teacher has requested any material or communication, respond promptly. These skills, along with many others in this article, are key procedures to both school and post secondary success. When this type of accountability can be maintained, students can continue moving forward with their progress. With strong student-teacher communication and collaboration, students can keep track of their progress. They will be aware of anything hindering their learning or grades and immediately rectify it. Strong, clear, routine interpersonal skills will last a lifetime for any goals that your students set out to achieve.

 

Flexibility is powerful when paired with strong support systems. Students depend on the support from their teachers, learning coaches and school. By modeling and providing various communication methods, we can prepare students to become responsible, independent adults. PA Virtual Chart School works tirelessly to keep students on track with opportunities of engagement, tools for organization and systematic routines. These three valuable keys to success are accentuated when students employ reflective thinking and goal setting. When students can reflect on their achievements, they will have the confidence to soar.

 

Explore the PA Virtual Charter School website to see if this model fits your students needs and their goals for learning.