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PLUM BOROUGH SCHOOL DISTRICT  |  ONE MINUTE READ

Plum Borough School District has made adjustments with its teaching model, making this year’s learning environment more robust that last year. We have listened to you and have created PlumFLEX to accommodate our families who are in need of a temporary online experience. 

Nothing can substitute live instruction from a teacher. However, due to our current environment, options have to be identified to continue to keep students safe while learning. According to Colleen Flaherty of Inside Higher Ed (2020), “Synchronous instruction is trending, but experts say a more intentional mix of live and asynchronous classwork is necessary for future remote terms.” 

Synchronous instruction is real-time instruction. Asynchronous instruction allows students to access information in their own time and place. Our school system is using multiple technologies to deliver this type of instruction for students K-12. Currently, we have: 

• Standardized the approach for Google Classroom K-12

• Plans to provide a more synchronous learning environment

• Added classroom cameras for teachers to increase teacher/student connections

• Installed Promethean Boards for all teachers in grades K-6

• Over 75% of our teachers are Google Level 1 Certified Educators.

Mr. Daniel Lauletta, Director of Educational Technology and Innovation says, “Now that our District is One-to-One from K-12, our students now have a tool to communicate, collaborate, and learn on the same learning system."