Teachers Use New Technology to Build Connections During Pandemic
In Beth White’s Pre-Kindergarten classroom, children waved to a squat, bird-like device mounted on a tripod in the middle of the space. On the screen nearby, the students saw their own images projected alongside a wide-angle view of their fifth grade Big Buddies in their own classroom. The fifth graders waved back.
The device the students were using to communicate between classrooms is the Meeting Owl Pro, a robotic, artificial intelligence-powered camera that captures 360° video and audio. The Owl works by automatically shifting the camera to focus on whoever is speaking, presenting a wide-angle view of the entire space along with closeups of individual speakers. When used in conjunction with video-conferencing software like Zoom, the result for viewers is an engaging experience that nearly feels like sitting in the classroom. The Owl and similar telepresence devices have seen a surge in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic, as the education world has adjusted to the realities of closed school buildings, hybrid learning models, and students and teachers sick or quarantined at home. The technology allows school to continue despite the effects of the pandemic.
Knowing that distance or hybrid learning was a likelihood at some point during the school year—because of either another statewide school closure or the need for isolated quarantines of specific homerooms or cohorts—Shore acquired the devices for every classroom in the school at the start of the fall. Now, even though most students still attend in-person school on Shore’s campus, teachers of all grades have found creative ways to employ the smart technology not only to enable remote attendance for students and faculty members affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, but also to build vital connections within the school community.
For example, Beth White is using the Owl to help keep alive the beloved Big Buddies program, which in a typical year would see fifth graders pairing up with Pre-K and Kindergarten students to read together, play games, complete craft projects, and more. “This year,” says White, “since we can’t be with them in person in the same ways, we’re using the Owl as one avenue to virtually visit with our Big Buddies.” White worked with fifth grade teacher David Lund to set up a visual math game that fifth graders and Pre-Kindergartners could play via the Owls in each of their classrooms.
Elsewhere in the school, faculty members are using the Owl to give themselves a presence in the classroom when they can’t be there in person. The device allows Innovation Lab Manager Cam McNall to teach from his technology-rich workspace, even when his students may be in a classroom in another building. The Owl also helps teachers who may be at home in quarantine to continue teaching, and to be there for students in other ways, too. Upper School teachers can even remotely host their cohort’s morning meeting, letting them interact with the whole class or check in with individual students. Meanwhile, in the Lower School, explains Director of Auxiliary Programs Jocelyn Norris, “Teachers in quarantine are still able to instruct and guide their students from home, and it’s been fascinating to see how well the students respond. They love going up to the Owl to show their work and ask questions about their progress.”
In Oliver Hay’s Upper School science classroom, where as many as seven students have been in quarantine at once, the Owl keeps remote students engaged. Hay uses the Owl in combination with the screen-sharing feature of Zoom to enable everyone to collaborate on the same document. “It’s been seamless to the point that I haven’t had to change my lesson plans at all,” says Hay. “Students at home are engaged as much as students in the classroom. It’s pretty remarkable how normal this new normal has become.” “Having the Owl in the classroom has been great,” adds Upper School math teacher Katie Sullivan. “I have one student who is remote all the time, and now he can join class every day. It’s pretty amazing.”
According to second grade homeroom teacher Carol Porter, there was a distinct learning curve before she and her students were able to feel at ease with the technology. “When I first turned on the Owl camera, the students were naturally fascinated by it. The ‘eyes’ of the Owl captured their attention immediately, drawing comments like ‘It’s watching me!’ and ‘Hey Owl, over here!’” Still, Porter explains, “It’s striking how un-self-conscious my students have now become about using this new technology. With one student at home in quarantine, the children easily understand the dynamic of using the Owl to share with her what’s going on in the classroom. And for the student at home, it’s been a gift—seeing how much she enjoys being part of the class while she’s stuck at home has been truly endearing.”
Back
The device the students were using to communicate between classrooms is the Meeting Owl Pro, a robotic, artificial intelligence-powered camera that captures 360° video and audio. The Owl works by automatically shifting the camera to focus on whoever is speaking, presenting a wide-angle view of the entire space along with closeups of individual speakers. When used in conjunction with video-conferencing software like Zoom, the result for viewers is an engaging experience that nearly feels like sitting in the classroom. The Owl and similar telepresence devices have seen a surge in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic, as the education world has adjusted to the realities of closed school buildings, hybrid learning models, and students and teachers sick or quarantined at home. The technology allows school to continue despite the effects of the pandemic.
Knowing that distance or hybrid learning was a likelihood at some point during the school year—because of either another statewide school closure or the need for isolated quarantines of specific homerooms or cohorts—Shore acquired the devices for every classroom in the school at the start of the fall. Now, even though most students still attend in-person school on Shore’s campus, teachers of all grades have found creative ways to employ the smart technology not only to enable remote attendance for students and faculty members affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, but also to build vital connections within the school community.
For example, Beth White is using the Owl to help keep alive the beloved Big Buddies program, which in a typical year would see fifth graders pairing up with Pre-K and Kindergarten students to read together, play games, complete craft projects, and more. “This year,” says White, “since we can’t be with them in person in the same ways, we’re using the Owl as one avenue to virtually visit with our Big Buddies.” White worked with fifth grade teacher David Lund to set up a visual math game that fifth graders and Pre-Kindergartners could play via the Owls in each of their classrooms.
Elsewhere in the school, faculty members are using the Owl to give themselves a presence in the classroom when they can’t be there in person. The device allows Innovation Lab Manager Cam McNall to teach from his technology-rich workspace, even when his students may be in a classroom in another building. The Owl also helps teachers who may be at home in quarantine to continue teaching, and to be there for students in other ways, too. Upper School teachers can even remotely host their cohort’s morning meeting, letting them interact with the whole class or check in with individual students. Meanwhile, in the Lower School, explains Director of Auxiliary Programs Jocelyn Norris, “Teachers in quarantine are still able to instruct and guide their students from home, and it’s been fascinating to see how well the students respond. They love going up to the Owl to show their work and ask questions about their progress.”
In Oliver Hay’s Upper School science classroom, where as many as seven students have been in quarantine at once, the Owl keeps remote students engaged. Hay uses the Owl in combination with the screen-sharing feature of Zoom to enable everyone to collaborate on the same document. “It’s been seamless to the point that I haven’t had to change my lesson plans at all,” says Hay. “Students at home are engaged as much as students in the classroom. It’s pretty remarkable how normal this new normal has become.” “Having the Owl in the classroom has been great,” adds Upper School math teacher Katie Sullivan. “I have one student who is remote all the time, and now he can join class every day. It’s pretty amazing.”
According to second grade homeroom teacher Carol Porter, there was a distinct learning curve before she and her students were able to feel at ease with the technology. “When I first turned on the Owl camera, the students were naturally fascinated by it. The ‘eyes’ of the Owl captured their attention immediately, drawing comments like ‘It’s watching me!’ and ‘Hey Owl, over here!’” Still, Porter explains, “It’s striking how un-self-conscious my students have now become about using this new technology. With one student at home in quarantine, the children easily understand the dynamic of using the Owl to share with her what’s going on in the classroom. And for the student at home, it’s been a gift—seeing how much she enjoys being part of the class while she’s stuck at home has been truly endearing.”
Shore Country Day School’s mission is to provide an education that inspires a love of learning and encourages children to embrace academic challenge. We seek to build character, cultivate creativity, and value diversity as we help our children become healthy, compassionate citizens of the world.
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