14. Emergency Online Learning – In School (James Whitehouse)

The role of technology in formal educational institutions has been gradually changing over the decades, with a lot of debate on the impact and the way technology should shape teaching and learning in the future. The 2020 pandemic suddenly changed everything. Around the world, from one day to the next, with no preparation or training, millions of educators and students switched to fully online learning, integrating several technologies into the school experience. Although emergency online learning is not an ideal that anyone should aspire to, the same way no one would recommend teaching someone to swim by throwing them in the turbulent ocean, but there are many valuable insights to be gained. This is one of two episodes in which we dig deeper into one school and one university’s experience of emergency online learning, how they managed the challenges, and what they learned along the way.

Elmwood School is an independent K-12 day school for girls in Ottawa, Canada. Elmwood is accredited at all three levels of the International Bachelorette Programme and 100% of the graduates are accepted to leading universities around the world. In terms of technology, Elmwood is at the forefront of integrating the latest educational technologies into their teaching and learning. James Whitehouse is the head of Elmwood School and also teaches grade 12 IB history. Previously, James was Deputy Head of the Middle and Senior School for seven years at Elmwood. Before coming to Canada, James was Assistant Head at Seven Kings High School in Redbridge, London, UK.

James Whitehouse: https://www.elmwood.ca/about/leadership

Elmwood School: https://www.elmwood.ca/

Book:

Grasp: The Science of Transforming How We Learn

https://www.amazon.com/Grasp-Science-Transforming-How-Learn/dp/0385541821