Remote Learning in 2021 - The Student Experience

It was unnaturally quiet around the St Paul’s campus during Term 3 and the beginning of Term 4, 2021. Our beautiful green spaces, classrooms, libraries and halls stood largely empty and eerily silent. Without the bustle of students and staff going about their teaching and learning, the school felt incomplete.

Yet while the campus lay dormant, activity was flourishing online as our teachers, students and their families responded to the incredible challenges that remote learning presented for our school community.

What did our students find were their biggest challenges? What did they enjoy? How did they stay motivated, healthy and both physically and mentally strong? Our Junior and Secondary School Captains share some of their thoughts on one of the most difficult periods of teaching and learning in the life of St Paul’s.

Scarlett Newton

Junior School Captain

“Learning online without teachers and friends has been difficult, as we do not have direct assistance and previously learning with others had made things easier and more fun. Being in Year 6 and learning online, particularly in the exhibition planning time, has been even harder. Online learning has meant that many Junior School students have missed out on fun activities including Gala Day, Camps, Excursions, Money Systems and more. Online learning isn’t all bad though – it’s fun to wear whatever clothes you would like and have more of a free and independent learning system. In Year Six we have been doing our government unit and we have had an online democracy and also a dictatorship! This has been a very fun and interesting way to learn about different government systems. We did do some fun things like making ice-cream with Miss Gale on a TEAMs call, “Tea with a DepuTea” and the wellbeing days like House Day and Book Day. Online learning in 2021 has been challenging but the teachers have tried really hard to also make it fun.”

Mrs Rachael Jamieson Newton taking part in “Tea with a DepuTea"

Daniel Low

Junior School Captain

“I think the most important lesson we can take away from this year is that it’s important to spend time with those who love and support you. I have enjoyed going for bush walks with my family and our weekly trivia night online with my extended family. So, in conclusion, although this year seems super frustrating now, I am sure we will look back and remember the fun times and not the bad.”

Emerick Agahari

Secondary School Captain 2021/2022

“My experience of remote learning this year has had its ups and downs. Having to be in the same room, at the same desk, using the same laptop all day was quite tiring and because of this it was difficult for me to concentrate, especially in the final two periods of the day. To counter this, I began to implement a remote learning rule for myself where, as soon as the timetabled period was over, regardless of where I was up to in the work set for the period, I would take a small break away from my desk, preferably outside, allowing my brain to reset. After implementing this, I found that I was able to work more efficiently and I had become less restless throughout the day. While I missed the social interaction that comes with being on campus, remote learning had its positives. With all the extra free time made by the lockdown, I was able to learn new skills and find new hobbies like playing the acoustic guitar, as well as devoting more time for practising existing ones, like playing basketball and the drums. Additionally, I was able to spend more time with my family at home, and more frequently connect with my grandparents.”

Abigail Keane

Secondary School Captain 2021/2022

“Remote learning was certainly a challenge however, I felt extremely supported by all of my teachers and the staff at St Paul’s. Our teachers worked so hard to provide us with creative and engaging lessons but were also very understanding that it is difficult to sit in front of a screen all day and encouraged us to take much needed breaks. I’m very grateful that we had the opportunity to stay connected with our teachers and peers through video calls, without which, remote learning would have been a lot harder. One of the things that I missed the most about being on campus is the ability to move around to different classrooms and areas of the school. This change of scenery really helps to break up each class, hence it has been particularly challenging to complete the entire school day at one desk. I found a few spots in my house that I moved to throughout the day, even taking some of my classes from the backyard, to help me stayed focused. This time has really encouraged me to find other ways to connect with my school friends both during and outside of school hours, where we would catch up over video calls to support each other and we would even get some extra study in. The last few months of lockdown have been a time of learning, in more ways than just school, but in learning about how resilient we can be and what a strong community we are.”