ETHOS • FALL 2020
(Big Blue Button) sessions. Meeting our students, after five weeks, was such a significant emotional uplift for all of us. Seeing my students after so many weeks, talking to them live, was a tremendous feeling. During the BBB session, I had the opportunity to teach and watch my students, give them advice, and guide them through all the sessions; I was there for them even through a screen. Even though a device, keeping us in contact was beneficial for all, but as an educator, I had to consider all the diverse needs, emotional, physical, and mental, of all students. Delivering lessons to all grades in elementary and having 290 students online is not an easy thing to do. I needed to be creative and innovative so that my teaching could be successful and meaningful. Most importantantly, however, I had to continue teaching as naturally as my students knew me in class, letting them feel safe and comfortable in this new virtual learning.
Teaching via BBB® In Elementary School During COVID-19 by Efi Karatopouzi , Elementary School PE Faculty
V
irtual learning was a very far perspective picture in my mind, regarding teaching Physical Education in JK-5TH Grade students.
I had this in my mind as a rapid solution, or as an extra PE engagement in students ‘everyday lives in MS/HS, but certainly not for elementary students. In physical education, we teach knowledge and skills by working and relating to each other. We try to develop teamwork skills and encourage students to transfer knowledge to other learning areas. We also develop critical thinking, and we have the opportunity to create new ideas and methods during our lesson, where students can build up awareness regarding their bodies and emotions. Unfortunately, on March 9th, we had to Stay Home and teach students via online learning, I started teaching with personal active videos and guidance, and as we continued, we evolved through online BBB
To implement active online learning for all students, I had to consider many things. Fist of all I had to think very carefully about structuring my lesson regarding theory and practice elements. Secondly, I had to ensure learning success while keeping my students’ emotionally happy and calm. Last but not least, I had to keep them enthusiastic about learning and improving their skills. My transition from live teaching to online teaching was rapid, and I didn’t have the luxury to think about what it looks like. I only did what a teacher who loves her work, and students would do. I just continued teaching as I did in class with love and caring for each of my students. Up until the day COVID -19 invaded our lives, I had only produced just a few videos regarding fitness for adults. Having to make PE videos to teach my students virtually was something very different and far more difficult . In a very short period of time I had to find ways that would encourage my students to work out with my videos. My videos were designed with each student’s grade and fitness level in mind. This helped me create a variety of workouts and drills that would engage every student. My students seemed to have fun and enjoy the workout videos. I can’t say that I enjoy online teaching very much because I can’t see how my students feel, I can’t properly assess if they are working out, nor can I see if they are doing something wrong that could potentially cause them harm.
