McKeesport plans to upgrade virtual learning

By JEFF STITT

jstitt@yourmvi.com

The McKeesport Area School Board recently looked toward beefing up its virtual learning platform for the 2021-22 school year.

Elementary and high school students who participate in MASD’s virtual learning program next year will have the opportunity to benefit from synchronous learning.

“I have some exciting news to report,” board Director Mindy Sturgess said at the top of the Education, Legislation and Policy Committee report. “This evening, we just approved two postings for four positions that will be added next year. … We will be conducting interviews for two elementary online teachers and two high school online teachers so that students who will be participating in our virtual program next year will have that opportunity for synchronous instruction, which is that live teacher interaction.”

In terms of virtual learning, synchronous learning refers to students getting instruction directly from a teacher in real time. Synchronous learning allows students to interact with their teacher, ask questions live, listen to lectures and at times allows for classroom interaction between students.

Under an asynchronous model, students typically learn and complete assignments in a more independent way, predominately utilizing videos, recordings, readings and virtual presentations given by the teachers for students to learn from.

Sturgess, who is also a public school teacher in Pittsburgh, said she has “had concerns with the independent learning that we’ve had through our system and I think everyone would agree that we are excited for these changes.”

“We’ve learned from our online experiences this year and we know some things that we don’t want to do again, that we’d like to do different for next year,” Sturgess said.

The board and administrators have heard from parents at board meetings during the pandemic and through private conferences and calls who’ve expressed that their children are having difficulty utilizing an asynchronous virtual learning model. Some parents think their children would benefit from live instruction and interaction with a teacher in real time.

Superintendent Dr. Mark Holtzman said the district has been trying hard this school year to jump hurdles caused by COVID-19 pandemic mitigation efforts and said he’s looking forward to next school year.

“We’re moving into warmer weather. That means the end of the school year is near,” Holtzman said. “It’s been a challenging year, but it’s been a positive one for the McKeesport Area School District family of students for the most part. We’ve done our very best to provide quality in-person instruction and we continue to manage and adjust and learn from our online learning, virtual learning experiences.”

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