BCPS announced recently that students will participate in asynchronous learning days on December 22, 2023 and May 17, 2024.
On these days, school buildings will be closed. Students will do activities and lessons at home instead of coming in to the school building. The school day will only be a half day with a three hour early dismissal.
According to BCPS, “During these two early release days, students will engage in asynchronous learning (virtual, self-paced at home) while teachers and staff engage in planning and professional development. Examples may include but are not limited to pre-recorded video lessons, resource videos, assigned readings, and posted assignments. These lessons and activities will be created centrally by the Division of Curriculum Instruction and posted online for students and families.”
English teacher Mr Kuklane, believes that the upcoming asynchronous day will be helpful to students as well as teachers. “I believe that the asynchronous day will benefit students and teachers alike. During the pandemic, we saw how students took advantage of “asynchronous Wednesdays” by making up missing assignments, completing homework, and attending drop-in coach class sessions. These days were also valued by teachers, as we had an opportunity to grade, lesson plan, and help students who needed extra support.”
Utilizing next Friday’s asynchronous day, with the second quarter ending shortly after we return from winter break, would be a great way to take care of missing work and catch up reading students have fallen behind on so they can hopefully feel caught up to officially begin their break and enjoy it after the conclusion of Friday’s school day. Second quarter ends on January 19, leaving only six A days and six B days when we return from the break.
Many students are excited about not having to report to school next Friday and being able to stay home in their own space. Eleventh grader Lindsay K. explains how she is happy that she can do her work from home at her own pace. “I personally think that the asynchronous day is a good thing, because not only can we stay at home and not have to go into the school, but we can use the time to catch up on assignments without all the other classroom and friend distractions or worrying about finishing before a bell rings.”
Asynchronous Wednesdays back during the Pandemic are something both students and teachers have missed and maybe this will be an opportunity to test out creating quarterly or even once towards the end of the semester asynchronous days for students and teachers to catch up and finish up work they’ve fallen behind on before the quarter or semester ends.
