>> FROM YOUR PUBLIC MEDIA STUDIOS, WVIA PRESENTS KEYSTONE ADDITION REPORTS, A PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAM THAT GOES BEYOND THE HEADLINES TO ADDRESS ISSUES IN NORTHEASTERN AND CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.

THIS IS KEYSTONE ADDITION REPORTS.

AND NOW, MODERATOR LARRY.

[CAPTIONS PROVIDED BY WVIA] LARRY: THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS BEEN TOUGH ON EVERYONE, INCLUDING CHILDREN.

MANY OF US HAVE NOT GONE BACK TO SCHOOL.

HOW DO YOU THINK THE PANDEMIC HAS AFFECTED EDUCATION?

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH OUR EXPERTS AT 1-800-326-9842.

TAG US ON SOCIAL WITH THE # KEYSTONEREPORTS.

WVIA'S PAUL GOSAR TAKES A LOOK AT WHAT THE PAST YEAR HAS BEEN LIKE FOR STUDENTS.

PAUL: THE SCHOOL YEAR HAS BEEN LIKE MANY OTHER FOR STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND FAMILIES ACROSS NORTHEASTERN AND CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.

LAST YEAR, STUDENTS WERE SENT HOME INDEFINITELY DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

A YEAR LATER, SOME OF THEM ARE BACK IN THE CLASSROOM FULL-TIME.

SOME ARE LEARNING AT SCHOOL A FEW DAYS A WEEK, AND AT HOME, THE REST.

OTHERS ARE STILL REMOTE LEARNING FULL-TIME.

SOME SCHOOLS HAVE TRIED TO BRING ALL THE STUDENTS BACK TO THE CLASSROOM ONLY TO SEND THEM HOME AGAIN DUE TO SOMEONE CONTRACTING OR BEING EXPOSED TO THE VIRUS.

MANY FAMILIES HAD TO SCRAMBLE TO ADJUST TO AT-HOME LEARNING AND A LACK OF RESOURCES INCLUDING RELIABLE INTERNET ACCESS HAS MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR SOME.

SOME RESOURCES TRIED TO MAKE THE TRANSITION EASIER.

WVIA'S LEARNING AT HOME INITIATIVE OFFERS HOURS OF CURRICULUM-BASED PROGRAMMING WEEK THEY MORNINGS AND AFTERNOONS TO STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12TH GRADE.

IN ADDITION, WVIA AND SIX OTHER PENNSYLVANIA PBS AFFILIATES HAVE BEGUN DATA CASTING FOR STUDENTS WITHOUT INTERNET ACCESS.

QUESTION IS, WILL SWITCHING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN CLASSROOM AND REMOTE LEARNING HAVE ANY LONG-TERM EFFECTS ON STUDENTS AND WHAT WILL REMOTE LEARNING MEAN FOR THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION?

FOR KEYSTONE ADDITION REPORTS, I AM PAUL -- KEYSTONE EDITION REPORTS, I AM PAUL.

KATTY: LET'S MEET THE WEAVERS, A FAMILY WHO HAS BEEN DEALING WITH LEARNING AND WORKING FROM HOME AND THEY SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH WVIA.

>> EDUCATION HAS CHANGED IN THAT THERE IS NO CONSISTENCY WHATSOEVER.

EVERY SINGLE THING CHANGES THE WAY WE ARE LEARNING, IN-LINE -- ONLINE OR IN PERSON.

LESSON PLANS ARE CHANGED TO ACCOMMODATE FOR CHILDREN WHO ARE REMOTE LEARNING FROM HOME.

WE ALL HAD INCREASED DEMANDS FOR INTERNET BANDWIDTH SO THAT WAS A BIG ADJUSTMENT.

>> I WOULD SAY I'M PROBABLY MORE INVOLVED IN PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT THEY ARE DOING IN CLASS WHEN THEY ARE HOME THAN I WAS BEFORE.

WHEN I CAN HEAR A CLASS, I AM MORE LIKELY TO ASK WHAT IS GOING ON AND HOW THINGS ARE GOING SPECIFICALLY.

>> FOR KIDS WHO MIGHT NOT WANT TO COME TO SCHOOL OR HAVE TROUBLE GETTING TRANSPORTATION, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, NOW, WE CAN ACCOMMODATE FOR THEM WITH THE NEW TOOLS.

WE ARE ALL LEARNING HOW TO MAKE LEARNING ACCESSIBLE ONLINE.

I AM EXCITED TO GO TO AN IN PERSON COLLEGE.

I THINK I CAN GET A WHOLE LOT MORE OUT OF IT WHEN WE ARE IN PERSON BUT I UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO BE REMOTE.

>> I FEEL LIKE THIS IS FORCED TO BE LIMITED TO ONE TOOLSET, BEING ONLINE, AND I THINK GOING FORWARD, AS WE ARE GIVEN MORE OPTIONS, WE WILL TAKE THE BEST OF THE ONLINE AND THE BEST OF THE IN PERSON AND HOPEFULLY CREATE A MORE EFFECTIVE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM AT ALL LEVELS.

KATTY: NOW WE NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU -- LARRY: NOW WE NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU.

YOU CAN ALSO EMAIL KEYSTONE @WVIA.ORG.

LET'S WELCOME OUR GUESTS WHO ARE HERE TO EXPLORE WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED ABOUT EDUCATION OVER THE PAST YEAR.

DR. COLLEEN IS IN THE STUDIO.

SHE TEACHES CODING AT THE CENTRAL UNIT.

STEPHANIE WILLIAMS JOINS US FROM -- WHERE SHE WORKS IN STEM AND I.T.

OPERATIONS.

AND GREGORY IS ON ZOOM.

HE IS THE SUPERINTENDENT OF WAYNE HIGHLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT.

WELCOME TO YOU ALL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING.

AND JOINING IN THIS DISCUSSION.

WE HAVE HEARD OVER AND NEVER AGAIN THAT THIS IS UNPRECEDENTED.

WE ARE IN UNPRECEDENTED TIMES.

CAN YOU THINK OF ANOTHER TIME WHEN OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM HAS BEEN SO CHALLENGED, HAS BEEN PUT UNDER SO MUCH PRESSURE?

THIS IS A QUESTION I WOULD LIKE TO ASK OF EACH OF YOU TO HAVE A COMMENT BUT WE WILL START WITH STEPHANIE WILLIAMS.

IS THIS REALLY AN UNPRECEDENTED TIME?

STEPHANIE: I THINK THAT IT IS AN UNPRECEDENTED TIME BECAUSE WE HAVE NEVER DEALT WITH ANYTHING LIKE THIS AND WE HAVE A LOT OF TOOLS AVAILABLE TO US TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THE ISSUES THAT CAME ABOUT DURING THE PANDEMIC.

WEATHER, YOU KNOW, STUDENTS ARE REMOTE, WHETHER THEY ARE IN THE CLASSROOM, I BELIEVE THE TOOLS THAT ARE OUT NOW REALLY MADE A LOT OF THE CHANGES AVAILABLE AND ACCESSIBLE.

SO RATHER THAN JUST SHUTTING DOWN FOR THE FULL YEAR, AND NOT HAVING SCHOOL AT ALL, AT LEAST THERE WAS SOME SORT OF AN OPTION.

LARRY: SUPERINTENDENT, HOW ABOUT YOU?

TELL US ABOUT THE CHALLENGES AND PRESSURES.

>> I WOULD SAY THAT THIS IS A SITUATION THAT IS VERY UNLIKE ANYTHING WE HAVE SEEN BEFORE.

I WOULD SAY MOSTLY IT IS BECAUSE -- THINK ABOUT IT.

IT IS A GLOBAL PANDEMIC SO IT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS REACHED TO A GLOBAL SCALE AND IT'S ALSO IMPACTED SMALL TOWNS LIKE THE ONE I LIVE IN.

SO I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT HAS ANYTHING LIKE THIS HAPPENED BEFORE?

I WOULD SAY, NOT IN OUR CAREERS.

AND WE HAVE LEARNED A LOT FROM IT.

I WOULD SAY THAT WHEN WE LOOK AT WHAT IT HAS TAUGHT US AND SOME OF THE IMMEDIATE RESPONSES WE HAD TO MAKE IN RESPONSE TO IT, ALL OF US HAVE LEARNED THROUGHOUT THIS PANDEMIC THAT WHEN WE ARE MAKING DECISIONS AND DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO ACCOMMODATE THIS PROBLEM, THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS WE HAVE TO CONSIDER IN EVERY DECISION WE MAKE IT OBVIOUSLY, THE HEALTH AND SAFETY COMPONENT HAS TO BE A PRIORITY.

ALL OF US ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE CONTINUITY OF EDUCATION AND I THINK JUST AS MUCH, WE ARE ALL CONCERNED ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY AND WHAT OUR COMMUNITY'S NEEDS ARE.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME MAY BE IN ALL OF OUR CAREERS, WE HAVE REALLY HAD TO CONSIDER THOSE THREE THINGS IN A MUCH MORE GRAND WAY THAN WE EVER HAVE BEFORE AND DECISIONS ARE NOT JUST BASED ON ONE PIECE OF THAT PUZZLE.

IT'S ALL OF THOSE THINGS COMBINED TO DO WHAT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF NOT JUST THE SCHOOL SYSTEM OR THE HOUSEHOLDS OR THE STUDENTS, BUT THE COMBINED COMMUNITY.

>> DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD?

>> YOU ASKED IF THERE WAS ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE, AND ASIDE FROM WHAT THEY LEARNED IN THE PANDEMIC THAT BEFORE -- I LOOKED IT UP.

I AM A RESEARCHER AND I'M LIKE HOW DID THEY HANDLE IT BACK THEN?

TEACHERS WERE PUTTING KIDS IN SLEEPING BAGS AND TEACHING THEM OUTSIDE.

THERE ARE PICTURES OF STUDENTS LEARNING OUTSIDE SO THAT WAS MY THOUGHT, JUST MOVE OUTSIDE.

WE WILL TAKE THESE CLASSES OUTSIDE.

SO I AGREE WITH WHAT THEY SAID.

WE HAVE BEEN VERY LUCKY THAT WE HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY BUT WE HAVE THE RESILIENCE OF THE TEACHERS THAT HAVE REALLY -- AND THE ADMINISTRATORS AND THE PARENTS, AND I THINK WE HAVE ALL REALLY WORKED TOGETHER.

IT IS NOT PERFECT, BUT IT IS BETTER THAN IT COULD HAVE BEEN.

LARRY: IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION, YOU ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE.

YOU CAN CALL IN A QUESTION.

IT SEEMS THAT WE HAVE -- I THINK MOST PEOPLE ARE ON THE SAME PAGE.

WE WANT TO GET BACK TO SCHOOL.

WE WANT KIDS TO GET BACK IN SCHOOL.

WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE?

WE JUST LEARNED TODAY THAT THERE IS A NEW PROGRAM THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

THE PENNSYLVANIA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH A TASK OF GETTING THIS VACCINE OUT TO THE TEACHERS AND STAFF AND WE LEARNED THAT THEY ARE NOW GOING TO BE AS EARLY AS LATE NEXT WEEK.

30 NEW SITES THROUGHOUT PENNSYLVANIA TO ADMINISTER THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE WHICH IS THE ONE VACCINE AND THEY HOPE TO HAVE ALL WHOEVER HAS NOT GOT IT, TEACHERS AND STAFF, INOCULATED BY MID APRIL, HOPING TO BRING ALONG, YOU KNOW, INOCULATE 500 TO 1000 PEOPLE A DAY.

IT'S GOING TO BE SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

THERE IS AN ONLINE TOOL SO THAT YOU CAN SET THAT UP.

NOW, THIS IS GETTING US ON THE PATH.

IS THIS GOING TO GET US BACK TO NORMAL OR DO WE NEED TO DO MORE?

SHOULD THERE BE MANDATES OR GUIDELINES?

AND IF SO, SHOULD THOSE MANDATES AND/OR GUIDELINES COME FROM A CENTRAL SOURCE, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THE STATE GOVERNMENT, OR SHOULD THAT BE LEFT TO INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS?

>> YOU ARE ASKING ME ABOUT HOW TO GET THE KIDS BACK TO SCHOOL.

LARRY: YES.

WILL THIS BE ENOUGH OR DO WE HAVE TO DO MORE?

>> I DON'T THINK THIS IS THE SILVER BULLET.

THIS WILL GET A LOT OF CONFIDENCE BACK FOR TEACHERS AND, YOU KNOW, SO WE WILL FEEL LIKE, OK, WE CAN BE THAT FRONTLINE WORKER FOR YOU AND FOR OUR COMMUNITIES, BUT YOU KNOW, I AM NO EXPERT IN THIS.

I KNOW SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE EPIDEMIOLOGISTS.

AND THEY ARE LIKE, YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T EVEN -- THEY CANNOT EVEN PROJECT WHAT WILL HAPPEN SO THE MITIGATION THAT WE WILL NEED -- WE WILL STILL WEAR MASKS AND ALL OF THAT.

IT WILL BE WITH US FOR A LONG TIME I THINK, BUT THIS IS DEFINITELY OPENING THE WINDOWS.

LARRY: DO YOU AGREE?

WE ARE GOING TO GET THE VACCINES, THE TEACHERS, THOUGH SUPPORT STAFF, BUT DO YOU AGREE WE WILL STILL HAVE TO HAVE THAT PHYSICAL DISTANCING, THE MASKS, THINGS OF THAT SORT?

>> I THINK WHAT YOU ARE DISCUSSING WITH THE ROLLOUT OF THE VACCINES WE LEARNED ABOUT TODAY, THAT IS SURELY A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

IT WILL NOT BE THE BE-ALL, END ALL, AND RETURN STUDENTS TO IN PERSON TEACHING.

EVEN IF EVERYONE WAS TO GET IT, WHAT STILL EXISTS IS THAT THIS IS STILL A DIVISIVE ISSUE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT OPINIONS ON THE PANDEMIC AND COVID AND HOW PEOPLE PERCEIVE IT SO I THINK EVEN WITH AN ADDITIONAL ROLLOUT OF VACCINES, SCHOOL DISTRICTS WILL HAVE TO WORK HARD TO CONTINUE TO TRY TO PROVIDE OPTIONS TO MEET FAMILIES WHERE THEY ARE.

EVEN WITH VACCINES THAT WILL BE DISTRIBUTED, THERE WILL STILL BE HOUSEHOLDS WHERE THEY FEEL IT IS SAFER FOR THEIR CHILDREN TO STAY HOME.

IT IS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S RESPONSE ABILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER WE ARE PROVIDING TO THOSE STUDENTS IS THE BEST THAT IT COULD BE.

I DO BELIEVE, HOWEVER, THAT WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT BEFORE ABOUT THIS IS LIKE NOTHING WE HAVE EVER SEEN BEFORE AND I THINK AS A RESULT OF THAT, ON THE BACKEND OF THIS, THERE'S GOING TO BE A WHOLE NEW APPRECIATION FOR WHAT GOES ON IN OUR CLASSROOMS EVERY SINGLE DAY.

A WHOLE NEW APPRECIATION FOR WHAT GOES ON IN PUBLIC EDUCATION.

I HAD A LOT OF PARENTS TELL ME THAT THE REMOTE INSTRUCTION -- I COULD HEAR THEM SAY EARLIER, THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN AS ATTUNED TO WHAT THEIR KIDS ARE DOING AS WHEN THEY ARE LOOKING OVER THEIR SHOULDERS BUT THEY ALSO NEVER APPRECIATED HOW HARD WITH THE TEACHERS ARE DOING ON THE OTHER END OF THAT COMPUTER REALLY IS SO WITH THE COMING OF THE VACCINATION -- WIDESPREAD VACCINATION, THERE STILL NEEDS TO BE OPTIONS AND THAT WILL BE OUR TASK.

LARRY: LET ME STAY WITH YOU FOR A MINUTE BECAUSE FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, IT IS A VERY RURAL SCHOOL DISTRICT SO TELL ME ABOUT WHAT YOUR MAJOR CHALLENGE HAS BEEN IN ALL OF THIS.

>> THE MAJOR CHALLENGE FOR US -- WE HAVE BEEN IN IN PERSON INSTRUCTION SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

WE HAD THAT AS AN OPTION FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS SINCE DAY ONE.

A MINIMUM OF OUR STUDENTS ATTENDING IN PERSON SINCE WE STARTED.

WE HAVE TWO OTHER OPTIONS.

ONE IS OUR LIVE OPTION WHICH IS THE SYNCHRONOUS OPTION THAT STUDENTS CAN LEARN FROM HOME AND WE ALSO HAVE A VIRTUAL CAMPUS.

THE GREAT CHALLENGE FOR NOXIOUS RULE DISTRICTS -- FOR NOT JUST RURAL DISTRICTS BUT ALL DISTRICTS IS FOLLOWING THOSE THREE CRITERIA.

LET'S FOLLOW WHAT GUIDELINES NEED TO BE FOLLOWED TO MAKE IT A HEALTHY AND SAFE ENVIRONMENT.

LET'S MAKE SURE WE ARE DOING THE BEST WE CAN SO THE CONTINUITY OF EDUCATION IS INTACT, WHETHER YOU ARE IN PERSON, AT HOME, OR GOING FULLY VIRTUAL.

I THINK MAY BE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE IS TO BE COGNIZANT OF WHAT YOUR COMMUNITY'S NEEDS ARE.

WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE MANY, MANY HOUSEHOLDS WHERE PARENTS ARE WORKING SO IF YOU ARE THE PARENT OF A KINDERGARTEN THROUGH SIXTH GRADE STUDENT, LEAVING TO GO TO WORK BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT WHEN THOSE CHILDREN ARE GOING TO BE HOME SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WHEN WE WERE MAKING DECISIONS THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE HOUSEHOLDS TO BE ABLE TO KIND OF FUNCTION WITH SOME NORMALCY, TO BE ABLE TO THRIVE AND SURVIVE AND I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT.

LARRY: STEPHANIE AND COLLEEN, YOU ARE BOTH REPRESENTING UNITS SO YOU HAVE A LARGER EXPERIENCE WITH THIS INSTEAD OF JUST ONE SCHOOL DISTRICT SO STEPHANIE, I WILL START WITH YOU.

HOW WOULD YOU GRADE -- SINCE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT EDUCATION AND GRADES -- HOW WOULD YOU GRADE GENERALLY MOST OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS RESPONSE TO ALL OF THIS OVER THE LAST YEAR?

STEPHANIE: I THINK TO GIVE IT A GRADE IS A LITTLE UNFAIR ONLY BECAUSE WHAT ENDS UP HAPPENING IS EACH DISTRICT DOES WHAT THEY FEEL IS BEST FOR THEIR POPULATION.

SO TO COMPARE THEM AGAINST EACH OTHER IS A LITTLE, YOU KNOW, UNFAIR AT THAT POINT, BUT I THINK ALL DISTRICTS, ESPECIALLY IN OUR AREA, HAVE REALLY TRIED TO DO THEIR BEST TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR STUDENTS ARE TAKEN CARE OF.

THAT PARENTS VOICES ARE HEARD, THAT THE TEACHERS VOICES ARE HEARD.

THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK OUR DISTRICTS ARE REALLY TRYING TO DO, AND LIKE YOU SAID, AS FAR AS GRADING THEM, SOME OF THEM ARE DOING IT BETTER THAN OTHERS AND MOST OF THE TIME, IT IS NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN.

IT'S JUST THAT THIS IS THE NATURE OF THE BEAST.

IT IS A MOVING TARGET AT ALL TIMES AND IF WE COULD PREDICT IT, WE WOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN IN THIS SITUATION, SO THAT'S ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS THAT I SEE.

FROM A PARENTS POINT OF VIEW, I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT -- I GOT TO SEE THAT WINDOW INTO MY KIDS CLASSROOMS AND I GOT TO SEE HOW CREATIVE THEIR TEACHERS WERE IN THEIR CLASSES AND TRYING TO MAKE THE CONTENT AND WHAT THEY WERE TEACHING THE KIDS EXCITING SO AS A PARENT, VIEWING IT, THAT WAS VERY EXCITING TO ME TO SEE THE CREATIVITY THAT SO MANY TEACHERS BROUGHT INTO THEIR LESSONS.

LARRY: WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU IF YOU HAVE A QUESTIONS FOR ONE OF OUR EXPERTS.

WE HAVE TEACHERS.

COLLEEN, YOU ARE A TEACHER BEFORE YOU STEPPED UP TO BE THE CONSULTANT.

WE HAVE AN ADMINISTRATOR.

WE HAVE SOMEBODY WHO HAS A BACKGROUND IN THE ARTS HERE.

WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU SO USE THE PHONE NUMBER OR GET IN TOUCH WITH US VIA EMAIL OR SOCIAL.

#KEYSTONEREPORTS.

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE ASPECTS WHERE THE TEACHERS ARE TRYING TO USE THEIR CREATIVITY.

STEPHANIE, SHE BROUGHT THAT UP.

AND TRYING TO ENGAGE THE STUDENTS, IT'S SO DIFFERENT FOR A TEACHER WHO IS SO USE TO BEING IN THE PHYSICAL PROXIMITY OF THE STUDENTS AND NOW, YOU ARE TRYING TO DO THAT THROUGH A SCREEN.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

>> YES, SO I THINK I HAVE OFTEN SAID THAT TEACHERS MAY BE OUR ACTORS THAT NEVER GOT TO BE ON STAGE BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF PASSION FOR OUR SUBJECT.

ELEMENTARY TEACHERS HAVE A LOT OF PASSION FOR THOSE STUDENTS AND SO JUST TO NOT HAVE THAT INTERACTION IS REALLY DIFFICULT SO ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU FIND YOURSELF INTERACTING WITH A SCREEN AND QUITE OFTEN, AT LEAST IN MY SITUATION, MY STUDENTS WOULD COME TO CLASS AND THEY WOULD NOT HAVE THEIR SCREENS ON.

THEY WANTED TO BE -- YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE BACKGROUND IS.

THEY COULD BE IN THEIR KITCHEN.

THEY COULD BE IN A REALLY MESSED UP BEDROOM.

YOU JUST DO NOT KNOW.

THEY ARE EMBARRASSED BY WHAT THEIR HOME LOOKS LIKE.

OFTEN TIMES, I'M TRYING TO TEACH AND THE EFFERVESCENT AND ISN'T THIS JUST THE MOST AMAZING THING , TO A SCREEN FULL OF ICONS THAT WOULD BLINK WHEN THE STUDENTS WHICH SHARE THEIR QUESTIONS WITH ME SO IT WAS A LITTLE HEARTBREAKING.

IT IS HARD.

IT WAS REALLY GRATIFYING TO BE ABLE TO GO BACK IN PERSON WITH STUDENTS BUT I WILL NEVER KNOW WHO MY STUDENTS ARE.

BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN BEHIND MASKS ALL YEAR SO WHEN I SEE THEM ONE OR TWO YEARS FROM NOW WITHOUT THEIR MASKS, I DON'T KNOW IF I WILL KNOW THEM.

LARRY: WE ARE RUNNING QUICKLY OUT OF TIME, AS A MATTER OF FACT.

LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT TECHNOLOGY.

LET'S START WITH YOU.

HAVE YOU FOUND -- YOU HAVE NOT HAD IN PERSON, YOU KNOW, IN PERSON EDUCATION OR INSTRUCTION SINCE THE BEGINNING BUT YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVE SOME DISTANCE LEARNING USING THE INTERNET.

HAVE YOU FOUND A PROBLEM WITH THE TECHNOLOGY?

IS THE TECHNOLOGY ROBUST ENOUGH?

DO WE HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE RIGHT KINDS OF TOOLS, THE RIGHT KINDS OF TECHNICAL TOOLS, THE COMPUTERS, THE DEVICES, AND THE BANDWIDTH, THE INTERNET ACCESS.

HAVE YOU FOUND AN ISSUE WITH THAT?

>> PRIOR TO THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, LIKE EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT, WE SURVEYED OUR STUDENT AND PARENT POPULATION TO FIND OUT WHERE WE WOULD BE AS WE ENTERED THE SCHOOL YEAR AND WE WERE SURPRISED THAT WE HAD A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF OUR HOUSEHOLDS THAT HAD THE ABILITY TO CONNECT.

THEY HAD WI-FI, THEY HAD THE INTERNET, BUT EVEN IF THERE IS A SMALL PERCENTAGE, LIKE THERE IS, THAT PRESENTS A PROBLEM BECAUSE THESE ARE KIDS THAT ARE HAVING CONNECTIVITY ISSUES THAT IN THE SHORT TERM CANNOT BE RESOLVED SO I THINK WHAT IT HAS TAUGHT US IS THAT, YOU KNOW, ASIDE FROM EDUCATION, THE BROADBAND ISSUE IN GENERAL, IF YOU LOOK AT THE ECONOMIC PROBLEM THAT IT CAUSES, THE EDUCATIONAL PROBLEM THAT IT CAUSES, IT HAS COME TO KIND OF A HEAD, BUT YES, SO WE DID FACE THAT.

WE WERE FORTUNATE TO GET SOME GRANTS AND WE WERE ABLE TO CREATE HOTSPOTS, BUT EVEN IF THE PERCENTAGE IS VERY SMALL, IT IS STILL A PROBLEM AND STILL SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE WORKED ON AND I THINK AS WE MOVE FORWARD, THAT IS GOING TO BE A TARGET AREA FOR EVERYBODY.

LARRY: WE ARE SO USED TO TALKING ABOUT ZOOM AND GOOGLE AND ALL OF THESE KIND OF VIDEOCONFERENCING BUT THERE ARE OTHER TECHNICAL -- THERE ARE OTHER TECHNOLOGIES OUT THERE.

STEPHANIE, I KNOW THAT YOU CAN SPEAK TO US ABOUT DATA CASTING.

TELL US ABOUT THAT AND THE POWER OF THAT.

STEPHANIE: THE DATA CASTING ASPECT OF BRINGING NOT THE INTERNET BUT BRINGING CONTENT TO STUDENTS THAT ARE DISCONNECTED, THAT DO NOT HAVE ANY CONNECTION WHATSOEVER AND HOW IT IS DONE IS THAT IT IS DONE THROUGH THE TRANSMISSION WAVES OF YOUR LOCAL PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION SO DATA CASTING WAS BROUGHT OUT BY A JOINT VENTURE WITH PDE, THE STATE, AND THE PBS STATIONS.

RIGHT NOW, FOR OUR STATE, IT IS IN ITS PILOT SO WE ARE STARTING THE FIRST PILOT RIGHT NOW.

THERE ARE ABOUT AT LEAST 28 SCHOOLS BETWEEN 22 AND 28 SCHOOLS THAT ARE ACTUALLY PILOTING THIS.

AND WHAT IT DOES IS, AGAIN, IT ALLOWS CONTENT TO GO ONTO A DEVICE AND THEN THAT CONTENT IS THEN PUSHED OUT THROUGH THE RADIO WAVES THAT THE PBS STATION PUSHES OUT AND THERE IS A RECEIVER ON THE OTHER END FOR THE STUDENTS AND THE STUDENT IS ABLE TO RECEIVE CONTENT FROM THEIR TEACHERS.

SO EVERY DAY, IT SEEMS TO BE PROGRESSING MORE AND MORE SO IT SEEMS TO BE GETTING MUCH MORE ROBUST, MUCH EASIER FOR TEACHERS TO USE, SO THERE'S A LOT OF STRIDES AND WE ARE NOT JUST THE ONLY STATE DOING IT.

IT'S REALLY INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THERE'S MANY STATES IN AMERICA DOING THAT FOR THEIR STUDENTS RIGHT NOW.

LARRY: I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THAT DATA CASTING IS NOT NEW TECHNOLOGY, THAT CORPORATIONS HAVE BEEN USING THIS FOR MANY YEARS IN THE WAY THAT THEY TRANSFER INFORMATION FROM ONE OF THEIR FACILITIES TO ANOTHER.

WHEN MR. WEAVER WAS TALKING FROM THE FAMILY EARLIER ON, HE WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW NOW, WE HAVE MORE TOOLS IN OUR TOOLBOX AND WITH DISTANCE LEARNING, IT'S BENEFICIAL AND MAYBE WE CAN FIND A WAY TO ENHANCE LEARNING GOING FORWARD USING A COMBINATION OF THE TECHNOLOGY THAT WE HAVE AND IN PERSON LEARNING SO THAT IS KIND OF AN UPSIDE TO THAT.

DO YOU THINK WE REALLY NOW HAVE TO JUST -- COLLEEN, I WILL ASK YOU THIS.

DO WE REALLY HAVE TO JUST EMBRACE THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY FINALLY AND THAT WE WERE PUSHED INTO USING IT AND NOW, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE WILL FIND WILL BE BENEFICIAL IN THE LONG RUN WHEN WE GET BACK TO IN PERSON INSTRUCTION?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WHY DO WE EVER SEND KIDS TO SCHOOL?

WHY?

NOW, WE HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY THAT IF A CHILD HAS PROBLEMS BEING SICK, THAT THEY DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE OUT OF SCHOOL THE WHOLE TIME AND YOU ARE NOT THEN MOVING THE WHOLE FLEW AROUND.

I CAN REMEMBER 10 YEARS AGO, WE HAD TO CLOSE DOWN SCHOOL BECAUSE THE FLU WAS SO BAD FOR A FEW DAYS SO MAYBE THAT IS A THING OF THE PAST.

>> WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS NO MORE SNOW DAYS.

>> THERE IS A LOT TO BE LEARNED ON A SNOW DAY.

THERE OUGHT TO BE A FEW.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER THINGS TO LEARN.

SO HOW DO YOU PLAN -- ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD AND TRYING TO PLAN TO CONTINUE TO USE THIS TECHNOLOGY?

AND PERHAPS EXPAND IT IN SOME WAY SO THAT IT ENHANCES THE IMPERSONALITY?

>> I THINK THAT IS ONE OF THE GREAT TAKEAWAYS THAT WE WILL FIND FROM THIS PANDEMIC.

EACH OF OUR BUILDINGS AND GRADE LEVELS WERE AT DIFFERENT LEVELS OF USING TECHNOLOGY AS TOOLS IN THEIR CLASSROOM FOR INSTRUCTION AND I THINK AS WE COME OUT OF THIS, WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF STAFF THAT HAD A CRASH COURSE IN GOOGLE CLASSROOM AND 1-1 INITIATIVES AND OVER TIME, I THINK THEY HAVE BECOME EXPERTS AT USING THOSE TOOLS TO ENHANCE AND IMPROVE ON INSTRUCTION SO IT DEFINITELY WILL NOT BE SOMETHING WE MOVE AWAY FROM.

IT WILL BE SOMETHING WE ADD TO OUR BAG OF TRICKS AND UTILIZE IN A WAY WHERE IT WILL MAKE THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE BETTER FOR EVERYBODY AND THAT IS DEFINITELY GOING TO BE ONE OF THE GREAT TAKEAWAYS.

LARRY: WONDERFUL.

WE ARE QUICKLY RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

I HAVE NOT EVEN GOTTEN TO SOME OF THE OTHER QUESTIONS I WOULD LIKE TO ASK, BUT I DO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PARTICIPATING IN THIS DISCUSSION.

WE HAVE JUST ABOUT SCRATCHED THE SURFACE OF THIS SO I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING IN THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS TOPIC, PLEASE VISIT WVIA.V --COM -- WVIA.COM/KEYSTONEREPORTS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

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