Adventures in IB: Distance learning and IB Spanish
April 10, 2020
IB Distance Learning at Purcell Marian
We are a few weeks into distance learning and shelter-in-place -- something new for students, their families, and teachers around the world. We are not alone in the experience nor are we alone in finding ways to continue doing what needs to be done.
In the world of IB, we are the “new kids on the block,” having been authorized as an IB World School in October 2019. We’ve joined a community of 5,263 schools in 158 countries offering one or more of the IB programs. In Ohio, we are one of 19 high schools offering the Diploma Program. In challenging times there are often stories of people who reach out to support their colleagues and share their resources. That has certainly been our experience with IB schools across Ohio.
When the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, John Rutter put to music a prayer for freedom. The lyrics apply to the challenge we face today:
"Come join together, take the dusty road. Help one another, share the heavy load.The journey may be long, no end in sight. There may be hills to climb or giants to fight.But if you take my hand, we’ll walk together toward the land of freedom."
That’s what we do as Cavaliers, members of the IB community, and citizens of Ohio, the USA and the global community. We are connected in so many different ways, we are in this together whether we are from Cumminsville, College Hill, California or China.
IB Spanish: The Move Online
The sudden move to distance learning has challenged students and teachers alike to move out of their comfort zones and try new things. For veteran Spanish teacher Andrea Heile, however, much of this shift has been seamless; as her colleagues and students will tell you, Señora Heile is a master of making the most of online tools — everything from EdPuzzle to FlipGrid — to enhance her teaching and engage her students.
Still, says Señora Heile, “I miss the classroom.” Particularly for a language class, talking to one another is essential. So the speaking has continued online, in Google Meets, which recreates the IB Spanish classroom virtually through the magic of video chat.
As junior Kara King, explains, “We are constantly talking even if we are uncomfortable with what we are saying because Mrs. Heile says, ‘Bad Spanish is better than no Spanish.’ It surprises me how little English is used but how much I pick up and understand.”
In terms of what they speak about in class, students took note of the emphasis on Hispanic culture in IB Spanish. In particular, they have focused on understanding specific social groups within Hispanic societies, which has enriched their understanding of the language itself. “[Learning about] the social groups has helped me understand the culture behind the language,” says junior Trinity Cole, “I didn't really care or think to analyze the social groups, but now that I have it has given me an open and new perspective of the Spanish language.”
Of course, there is no replacement for being together, but for the students in IB Spanish, the transition has been a smooth one. “We have been sending in videos us of talking on Flipgrid,” explains King, “We’ve been using Quizlet to study vocabulary words and Google Hangout to learn from the teacher directly. I feel like I am still in the school environment.”
