Strategic planning prepares Notre Dame for smooth transition to online learning
In February, as information from the Centers for Disease Control and other health agencies raised concerns regarding COVID-19, the Academy of Notre Dame de Namur in Villanova began to take steps to safeguard the health and safety of their learning community.
The Academy also assessed plans to deploy the school’s online learning protocol, under continuous development through the Academy’s 2015-2020 Strategic Plan, if needed.
On March 12, Head of School Dr. Judith A. Dwyer informed the community that instruction would transition to a fully online environment, effective March 16. Online teaching and learning continued through the remainder of the academic year.
The seamless movement to an online environment demonstrated immense flexibility and innovation by students and teachers.
Within the online environment, faculty continued to emphasize the importance of relationships, meeting their students through Google Meet in small and large-group settings.
They leveraged resources such as YoTeach! or Kahoot to facilitate discussion, maintain routine and provide feedback, as in a traditional classroom. Teachers employed video software to record lectures, notes, discussions, sample annotations and labs.
They also utilized Educreations and Edpuzzle to assign work for students to complete asynchronously, encouraging students to learn at their own pace.
Students observed the Academy’s Online School Protocol and Etiquette guidelines, which included wearing their ND polo or
ND sweatshirt when conferencing with teachers for class.
Notre Dame’s counseling office provided students and parents with assistance in creating schedules for time management, offering support to address the impact of reduced inperson student social interactions with classmates, and to provide overall support for families.
The counselors, in coordination with the physical education department, provided self-care guidance in the Academy’s weekly newsletter to help students and families stay mentally and physically fit.
The college counseling office remained in close contact with the Class of 2020 as it navigated the college acceptance process and provided support for the junior class through online college counseling classes and summer virtual mock interviews, essay-writing workshops and counselor chats.
Throughout the statewide school closure, Notre Dame engaged in a continuous improvement process to provide students with an impactful and holistic learning experience.
Student, parent and faculty surveys yielded important and actionable feedback, including the development of “Wednesday Work Day.” No formal classes were scheduled during the Work Day to provide teachers with additional time for professional learning, planning and student meetings.
The day provided students with an important balance between classroom screen time and non-screen activities. Students were encouraged to engage in physical fitness, yoga/meditation, prayer and relationship building.
Daily prayer, along with Wednesday community prayer, united students through a shared prayer emailed at the start of each day. Community prayer videos sent to the ND community included reflections and readings by students.
“Thank you ND faculty and staff!” said one ND parent. “Charlotte is dancing and Emmeline is taking an AP stat test at the same time in our home. Who could have imagined? But here we are and we are so pleased with how quickly and effectively school was set in motion.”
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