Asynchronous learning nixed
The Wimberley ISD Board of Trustees unanimously approved the removal of asynchronous learning following the return from Thanksgiving break.
Asynchronous learning is when learning does not match up with the time of instruction – the teaching isn’t live. It is done remotely through online or paper lesson plans. The removal of asynchronous learning as an option for WISD students limits the options students have to continue school from home, but it does not remove all athome options.
Synchronous learning is done when learning happens at the time of instruction – the student is watching the teacher live. This can be done as it is traditionally, in person, or through online applications where students can participate through video with the class in real time.
Last week, the school board heard from parents and students that benefited from the program and the flexibility it added to their lives. This week, teacher spoke up in large numbers at the school board meeting stating that the requirements of asynchronous learning were too much and were not effective for the majority of students.
“The majority of these students are developing a lack of motivation and they are not ready for something that was intended for higher education or the corporate world,” Roberto Frontera, Pre-Calculus and Engineering Design teacher at Wimberley High School, said. “They are missing instant feedback or any feedback at all from teachers or peers and there is absolutely no collaboration. Asynchronous training requires a lot of training, investment and time – three things that are in short supply when teachers are being called to pivot on a dime. We don’t have an asynchronous education ready for the whole year and are preparing material on the fly. I spend at least 25 percent or more time this year using evenings and weekends to keep up so at least the in-person students are receiving the same level of education as last year and the remote students are not falling behind. If I don’t keep up and I start cutting corners, everyone’s education is going to get sacrificed.”
Dozens of teachers spoke up with similar sentiments calling for the board to eliminate the asynchronous learning option.
WISD Superintendent Dwain York stated that offering all three versions of learning at the same time was not sustainable and noted that many districts have eliminated all virtual learning options – something WISD was not willing to do.
“The bottom line is we must take care of our staff, so we can take care of our students,” York said. “Eliminating the asynchronous method is a good step in showing our teachers we are listening.”
The board largely agreed but some concerns were stated about removing the asynchronous option. With COVID-19 cases on the rise across much of the nation, would this option come back on the table should the situation change locally.
“We don’t know what will happen in the future,” Trustee Will Conley said. “We could be in a different circumstance two months from now where if we let our virtual options dissolve that we will be in a circumstance we cannot handle if our public health issues were to suffer and get worse… I appreciate what everybody is going through… I just want to hear that we are continuing to commit to it and look for ways to improve it. Prepare for the worst and hope for the best.”
The board also approved a “work overload stipend” for teachers a certain portions of staff including nurses. It is a $500 bonus that employees will get in December. However, the funds could be re-collected by the district should a teacher no longer be employed at the end of the school year.
“We know $500 is a drop in the bucket compared to the amount of work the staff and employees have put in,” Trustee Traci Maxwell said. “If we could do more, we would do more. But we feel like it is in the best interest of the district to offer something.”