Greg Whitby: Tech-savvy schools a step ahead on student support

Catholic Diocese of Parramatta executive director of schools Greg Whitby shares his thoughts on how technology in schools is more important than ever during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Many students are now learning from home in response to COVID-19.

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For years now, I’ve argued strongly that schools should have got stuck into online learning sooner.

With many students now learning from home in response to COVID-19, schools that were already switched-on about technology are best-placed to provide support.

There are different systems and technologies in use in different schools, just as there are students with many different needs.

Some schools use online readers and little learners love them. Others are using webcasting to provide tutorials, such as Youtube sensation Eddie Woo, to help senior students prepare for in-class learning.

Tech-savvy schools are best-placed to provide support to students who are now learning from home.

At the same time, I’m acutely aware of the digital divide. Schools are using their knowledge of their own communities to make sure the home-based learning support they provide meets the needs of local families.

This includes their internet access, technology and help for families who may have less capacity to support their children’s learning at home.

Even for early adopters of learning technology, there’s a challenge in scaling up great existing programs.

It’s also really important that we recognise that the schooling we will provide using new technology will not just be a takeaway version of school as we know it.

Stephanie Gulesserian, teacher Miss Camilla Brown and Iris Gregory at an online meeting with students from home at Our Lady of Dolours School in Chatswood. Picture: Justin Lloyd

When kids are learning at home, will they all need to be focused on the same task at the same time? Will they still need to do ‘homework’? How will this change school when we get back to the classroom?

COVID-19 has challenged all of us to rethink what it means to provide schooling. We have the tools to support students and we must use them.

We are learning so much about learning and teaching and how it can be different. We are also learning about ourselves and why being part of a community is so important to us all.

Finally, a big shout out to the teachers and other school staff with a reminder how much our community values your work: thank you, you are incredible.

Greg Whitby is the executive director of schools for the Catholic Diocese of Parramatta