There is no complete application of “distance education” except in cases of temporary closure
4 models for education in private schools in Abu Dhabi next year
Full time allows back to school while maintaining social distancing.
Photography: Eric Arrasas
The Department of Education and Knowledge has identified four models for reopening private schools in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi to choose from, including: full-time, half-day, rotation in weeks, in addition to a rotation system in days, noting that with the application of any of the back-to-school models, education should not be applied through Except in cases of temporary school closure or on specific groups of students, including students of any age group with health conditions classified as high-risk for the “Covid-19” epidemic and unvaccinated students who have reached 16 years old, in addition to students who voluntarily chose Distance education system (in schools that offer a distance education model)
The department explained in the “Policies and Guidelines for the Academic Year 2021-2022” that the full-time system allows students to return to school according to the usual school schedule while maintaining social distancing, while the distance education process continues in parallel for the excluded students (those with critical health conditions, and those who are not vaccinated). and those who chose the distance education system), while the half-day system allows classroom education for 50% of students during the morning or afternoon period, and distance education for the remaining percentage of students (50%), with a commitment to covering all working hours and covering all study subjects. (Group “A”: attends school in the morning and learns remotely in the afternoon. Group “B”: attends school in the afternoon and learns remotely in the morning.
The department indicated that the alternating day system provides classroom education for 50% of students during specific days in rotation, and distance education for the remaining percentage of students (50%), with a commitment to cover working hours and study materials, so that group (A) attends school two days in two weeks. The first and third of each month and three days in the second and fourth weeks, and distance learning takes place in the remaining days, while group B attends school three days in the first and third weeks, and two days in the second and fourth weeks, and learns from distance in the remaining days.
She pointed out that the last system of alternating weeks allows classroom education for 50% of students every two weeks, and distance education for the remaining percentage of students (50%), with a commitment to cover working hours and all academic subjects, so that group (A) attends school in the first two weeks And the third, and learn remotely in the second and fourth weeks, and group B attends school in the second and fourth weeks, and learns remotely in the first and third weeks.
The department stressed that given the new physical distance requirement (1 meter), schools must complete the analysis of their spaces to determine the maximum capacity to accommodate students who choose the return system for classroom education in the classroom at any time, and schools that can accommodate students with a capacity of 100% They must implement a full-time model, and only schools that cannot accommodate 100% of their class attendance students are allowed to apply a part-time model to affected students or classes and seminars.
She indicated that schools are allowed to implement the classroom education system without the option of distance learning, although these schools must continue to provide a distance education model for students who are exempted from attending school due to high-risk health conditions, or who have reached 16 years of age and are not vaccinated.
Schools must also prepare to move to the distance education system at any time for reasons of temporary closure, but they are prohibited from applying the distance education system to any class or section, or to the entire school, except after obtaining a permit from the Department of Education and Knowledge.
If the school wishes to apply a form other than the approved forms, it must communicate with the department in this regard.
The department indicated that when applying the entire distance education system due to temporary closure, or for authorized students, the school must adhere to the full teaching hours, including at least 50% of synchronous education (with the remaining lessons being compensated through asynchronous education). According to the previous school schedule for the “Covid-19” pandemic.
The study schedule for distance education is applied without reducing teaching time, or study materials.
She stated that synchronous learning means distance education that occurs "live" or in real time, and this includes that the teacher and student interact through a joint video or audio session, which allows communication and immediate comments between the participants, pointing out that simultaneous learning sessions do not mean Continuous interaction all the time, but interspersed with breaks, or time-outs, for “unconnected” individual and group work before returning to the meeting again.
The department stated that asynchronous education refers to the education that occurs remotely between the teacher and his students during different times, and not at “the same time”, as if the teacher records the lesson on a video clip and uploads it to the educational platform, so that students can access this video at any time. and from anywhere without direct contact with the teacher, noting that the distance education system in schools should offer different methods of teaching and learning including (but not limited to) live broadcasts, live chat, live lessons that are recorded in the post and lessons that are pre-recorded Self-work papers, group / bilateral sessions, work projects that do not depend on the Internet and others, with the need for schools to inform parents about the distance education system that is being applied and the different methods that are being followed to implement this system.
full time model
The Department of Education and Knowledge confirmed that returning to the full-time system requires the resumption of full school hours, as it was applied before the "Covid-19" pandemic.
If there are any adjustments to the school day due to shift times (successive arrivals and departures, breaks, etc.), the school must apply the adjustment without reducing teaching time or course materials.
She indicated that returning to the part-time system requires the resumption of full school hours, including at least 50% of classroom education (with the remaining lessons being compensated through distance education outside school), according to the school schedule prior to the pandemic.
In the event that there are any adjustments to the school day, due to shift times, the school shall implement the amendment without reducing the teaching time or study materials.
• Obligating those with serious health conditions and unvaccinated students who have reached 16 years of age to "distance education".
• Schools that can absorb 100% of students must implement the full-time model.
• 3 part-time systems provided by the Department of Education and Knowledge for schools in Abu Dhabi.
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